Ellen Solokis has been working “behind the scenes” with Recollections for about two years as their photographer.  We have all seen her work, as she is the one behind the camera for all of Recollections fashion shoots and accessory shoots. She also helps to keep all the designs organized, and finds props.  When she isn’t looking through a viewfinder, Ellen is scouting the surrounding area and talking to locals to discover the best places for upcoming shots.

Her favorite part of being Recollection’s photographer is portraying Recollections beautiful fashions for viewers.  She says, “At every shoot, when I first see the model all dressed with hair and accessories, it is ALWAYS a WOW moment for me.”   She was thrilled (and surprised) to see her first picture in a full spread magazine – True West.  She also loved being part of the Recollections staff when being nominated “Top Designer” of the year.

Her favorite hobby is (of course!) photography. Ellen loves photographing babies, weddings, couples, seniors, wildlife, and just about everything else. “Not everyone sees the world through a lens”, she says.   “Photography is definitely a large part of who I am.”  Ellen can’t get enough of the views of Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.  She also enjoys pontooning on Elk Lake, and spending time on the Torch Lake sand bar with family and friends.

Ellen says, “At every shoot the models and I learn history of the era of the dress.   I feel very privileged to be able to work with all the Recollections design staff and learn what it takes to bring all these fashions to the site.   The excitement of the shoot never wears off...I love everything that goes into making the shoot successful.  I have many family members & acquaintances that live in this area who also help with locations for the shoots.  My sister Brenda is a collector of vintage jewelry, linens, glassware, etc. which I use in many accessory shots.   My cousin Paulette, a beautician, can be called in short notice if Sharon is unavailable to do hair.   The community here, in Presque Isle County is very supportive and gets excited when asked, "Can I use your yard or home for a photo shoot?"  This is certainly a "dream job" for me.”

Ellen is currently in the process of building her business web site. You can see more of her work on Facebook under “Photography Images by Ellen”, which is her business name.