Provided is an apparatus and method for recording holographic element images using a spatial light modulator (SLM), the apparatus including a recording light source unit to split a source beam output from a light source into a first output beam and a second output beam and output the first output beam and the second output beam, a reference beam generator to eliminate a distortion of the first output beam, and generate a reference beam by controlling a size and a shape of the distortion-eliminated first output beam, an object beam generator to generate an object beam by eliminating a distortion of the second output beam, and an object beam converging lens system to output a signal beam by modulating an object beam using a holographic element image, split the output signal beam in a plurality of directions, and converge split signal beams to be incident to a hologram film.