BOY TEDDY: THROUGH THE LENS OF LEATHER

Boy Teddy is a photographer based in Chicago whose work feels both intimate and cinematic. Fresh off another historic IML weekend in the city, Teddy continues to carve out a lane entirely his own within the leather community and beyond. Warm smile aside, he possesses a rare gift behind the camera, one rooted in instinct, emotion, and intention. Known for his striking series centered around men in leather, his photography captures more than aesthetics. It captures presence, desire, confidence, and the quiet vulnerability that exists beneath it all. Through his lens, masculinity becomes art.

Handsome Magazine got the chance to sit down with the man behind the camera to discuss photography, leather, identity, and the art of capturing leatherfolk with honesty, intimacy, and intention.

Handsome

When did photography stop being something you were interested in and start becoming part of who you are?

Boy Teddy

“I’ve been a photographer for about 15 years, but only a small portion of my work ever truly felt like me. Weddings, portraits, corporate projects… a lot of it never felt personal. At one point, I actually put the camera down completely to focus on another career.

That changed when a friend asked me to shoot portraits for his IML 2025 competition. I created a new social media page and started posting the work there. Unexpectedly, those images began attracting some really important people into my life and ultimately pushed me toward leaving my job and fully committing to this path.”

Handsome

What draws you to the subjects you photograph, and what do you hope people feel when they experience your work?

Boy Teddy

“With every subject, I’m more interested in who the person is than simply how I want to photograph them. The more I get to know someone, the more authentic the work becomes.

That connection changes the final image entirely. When I look back at the photos later, I don’t just see an aesthetic image. I see the person inside of it, and that creates a much deeper relationship to the work for me.”

Handsome

What is it about leather that translates so powerfully through your lens?

Boy Teddy

“Leather photography is completely different, both for the photographer and for the person being photographed. People step into leather wearing the version of themselves that feels the most powerful. Naturally, they want that reflected back to them in the work.

In a way, they want to see Superman instead of Clark Kent. But I don’t think that means they’re pretending to be someone they’re not. If anything, Clark Kent was always the disguise. Leather often reveals the version of people that already exists underneath.”

Handsome:

How has photography helped you better understand yourself, both behind the camera and within these spaces you’re documenting?

Boy Teddy:

“I’ve always considered myself someone who wants to be in service to my community. One of the things I’ve always loved most about being a leatherboy is how many opportunities there are to give back and show up for people in meaningful ways.

Once I saw how my photography made people feel more confident, I became really interested in understanding why. That’s when the work became deeper for me.”

Handsome:

What do you hope your work says about you over time?

Boy Teddy:

“I hope my work lets people know they’re safe with me and that they can trust me to do right by them. No matter your gender expression, your skin color, your size, or where you see yourself within the community, I want people to feel seen with care and honesty.”

In a world that often mistakes masculinity for performance, Boy Teddy’s work reminds us that there is power in honesty, softness, and being fully seen. Beyond the leather, the shadows, and the striking imagery lies something much deeper: trust. Through every portrait, Teddy captures men not as fantasies, but as people stepping closer to themselves. And perhaps that is what makes his work resonate so deeply. It is not simply about what we see through the lens, but what we finally allow ourselves to feel within it.

Check out more of Boy Teddy’s work on IG: @leatherboyteddy