Joe Semkow is the Picture of Kindness

Joe Semkow, professional photographer, videographer, lover of life, and doer of good deeds, is one busy fellow as he quietly goes about brightening the lives of others. He has paid off lunch debts at local schools, rented a movie theater so families could have a night out, and left brand-new bikes around town to be found by those who can’t afford them. And that’s just the short list.

“For me, the greatest gift is giving back, helping people whenever and however you can,” says Semkow, a kindness pied piper who has inspired others to join in his acts of spontaneous generosity.

“I used to use my own money,” he explains; “then I started getting messages from people who had heard about what I was doing and wanted to be part of it. They’re philanthropic by nature and contribute to the big causes like the American Red Cross, but they want to see where their $50, $100 goes right here in Vero Beach.

“I started giving away the bikes a few years ago with Milo Thornton, who’s been a mentor to me. We’ve probably given away 100 to 150 so far. We leave them locked up around town, and when people find them they send us a picture and we give them a code to the lock. We also give them a helmet.”

“When I was a kid,” Semkow remembers, “everyone had a bike. You knew where your friends were, and you got together and biked everywhere. For a kid who has never had a bike, or a family who didn’t have the money to buy one, being able to have a bike is a big deal.”

Born in Holly-wood, Florida, Semkow joined the U.S. Coast Guard soon after graduating from high school. His time in the military reinforced the importance of honor, duty, and integrity instilled in him by his police officer parents. It also increased his insatiable desire to learn.

“I have three college degrees and right now I’m studying psychology,” Semkow says. “Just because I’m 38 doesn’t mean I can’t go to school and learn about things that interest me.”

One of his main interests is the world around him and capturing images with his camera. You’ve seen his pictures everywhere: in magazines, newspapers, and corporate brochures. Ballet Vero Beach dancers welcoming a sunrise on the beach; a loggerhead turtle ensnared in a web of plastic; a couple sailing on a perfect day. They all tell stories, and that is Semkow’s intent.

When he isn’t behind a camera, he’s busy doing or thinking about things that can brighten others’ lives. “I belong to Big Brothers Big Sisters and have been with a little brother for about a year now. We do things together, and when he needs somebody to talk to, I’m there. I want him to go down the right road instead of the wrong one.

“Life is about choices. I tell people there’s so much to see and do. Turn off the TV, go outside, help others, and smile—a smile can make someone’s day. You only get one life to live. You can’t go back and say, ‘I wish I had done this or that,’ so do what you love, pour your heart into it, and make something that lasts.”