Meet Trailblazer Elena Thornton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elena Thornton.

Elena Thornton, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
In 2010, I started to take photos at social and charity events to record history, to tell a story through photos, to feature and give voice and visibility to the entity and, of course, to post on social media. The camera I was using was my little camera, I used to take photos of my art on canvas. I was volunteering at these events as a greeter or anything they needed help with and also to support my friends at their events. My husband Jim also joined me and would volunteer with me at many events. In 2007, I founded the Arizona Consortium for the Arts Charity, an all-volunteer community organization, so I figured by volunteering and helping other organizations I will meet amazing people in the community who will also help us with our mission and vision. I continued to show up, support our community and take photos, post on social media and things evolved. Eventually, I started to get invited to take photos and I needed help, so I asked my husband Jim to join me as a photographer, hence, we started Photos by Elena and Jim.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
When I mentor – I say – JUST START! There are challenges along the way but we keep moving forward. As we move forward, amazing opportunities appear.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Photos by Elena and Jim – what should we know?
I am known as the founder of our all-volunteer community organization – Arizona Consortium for the Arts Charity. All our programs events and activities are free to the community. Together with our Board of Directors and special projects volunteers – We are honoring, supporting, promoting, featuring, and sharing the rich diversity within our state the talent of local artists, groups, organizations, and entities. We have our Annual Fall Festival of the Arts coming up on October 28 – noon – 4 pm at the Arizona Heritage Center in Tempe. Free to attend the festival and free to be a vendor. The consortium’s vision is to establish a multicultural, multidisciplinary arts space/center with an open door policy. The center will provide a home for all activities and foster artistic growth for people of all ages through the participation in the arts. It will be a home for many wonderful community organizations and groups, creative and innovative activities and projects representing and celebrating our diverse community.

We inspire, engage, involve, give voices and visibility, celebrate, and connect our communities by providing innovative programs, activities, and publications. Through our consortium – We are leaving a legacy for this generation and future Arizona generations. It is free to be a member, free to submit to our publications and free to attend and participate in our events and activities. Visit www.artizona.org.

I am also known as a photographer. I enjoy taking photos of beautiful people at events and private commissions! I love people and they love me back and it reflects in the photographs. There are many amazing testimonials on our Photosbyelenaandjim.com website.

Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
I meet amazing people in the community who continue to be my friends and mentors by attending events, taking photos, posting on social media and following up.

Contact Info:

• Email: info@artizona.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artizonaorg/
• Facebook: enaandjim/?timeline_context_item_type=intro_card_work&timeline_context_item_source=597577938&fref=tag

Image Credit:
Photos by Elena and Jim

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.