Joey B. Lax Salinas was born and raised in northwest Indiana, mostly in Hammond. He graduated Donald E. Gavit High School and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in telecommunications from Indiana University (IU) in Bloomington. Joey has worked as a photographer, video producer, author, and marketing director. In 2005, he began taking photos of northwest Indiana with a goal of capturing every city and town during every season and major community event. He has done just that and has moved on to other major cities in the Midwest and beyond. In 2023, Joey published his first book, Good Night, Indiana University, which takes a whimsical bedtime journey around the campus of his alma mater.

Today, Joey enjoys traveling, writing music, making art, cooking, and gardening. Joey is the father of Parker and Madelyn, whose love of reading has inspired him to write children's books about places they have visited.