Steven John Irby

Brooklyn-born and Queens-raised, Steven John Irby, also known as Steve Sweatpants, is a photographer, creative director, and co-founder of Street Dreams Magazine. For over a decade, he has built Street Dreams into a global creative community, recently expanding with Street Dreams Tokyo.

Steve’s work is deeply rooted in the raw authenticity of city life, with a profound love for black-and-white photography that honors family connections and amplifies underrepresented perspectives. Influenced by legendary photographers such as Gordon Parks, Ricky Powell, Jamel Shabazz, and Joseph Rodriguez, his imagery captures timeless moments that resonate both personally and culturally.

A Sony artist for eight years, Steve contributed his talents to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Part 2 and has work in the permanent collection at the Museum of the City of New York. In his TED Talk on photography, he explores the saying his father engrained in his memory, “don’t live to pay your rent”.  Photography’s power to foster empathy, connection, and storytelling—reminding others to pursue their passions and cherish the bonds that shape them. The timeless moments that last forever and cost nothing.

In 2020, Irby was awarded a citation from the borough of Brooklyn for his contribution to the arts, music and cultural landscape of Brooklyn and the city of New York from the president of the borough of Brooklyn.

Steven John Irby - co-owner & director

Street Dreams New York
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street dreams magazine is focused on creating community through showcasing the talents of photographers worldwide.