donae cotton photography

furniture restoration is like photography! {read on!}

2011-05-10T16:58:00.000-05:00

so, you're probably wondering where i am going with this blog - furniture restoration and photography!

well, while sanding my little $12 goodwill find, washing it and then finally painting it, i had an epiphany! how many times was this little gem ignored? a photographer sees potential in locations that others probably drive by everyday. they see beyond the grimy torn down building and see beauty and a finished portrait.

the sanding. buffing away at the insecurities your clients may feel standing in front of the camera OR....

ignoring what is in the foreground on a location and looking beyond that and framing your subject amongst

the beauty you DO see.

the painting - also known as your camera settings, composition, equipment, lighting techniques and editing.

yup! furniture restoration is like photography!

here is my BEFORE and AFTER photo - same little chest. i just saw the beauty in it and little chest.....You ARE beautiful!

have a great day everyone!

donae

New Tagline!

2011-05-03T16:50:00.000-05:00

So, I describe my work as creative, edgy and sassy, but i needed a tagline for the longest time and just couldn't seem to round one up.....until a few days back. I love to have fun on a wedding day and the thought that popped into my head was "WHIMSICAL"....what a better word to match WHIMSICAL than WEDDINGS! Whimsical Weddings and well, my style is definitely more on the Vintage side of things.....so, here it is folks!

Whimsical Weddings with a Vintage Twist!

Tell me what you think?!

2011-04-30T20:45:00.001-05:00

So. ..your wedding is approaching faster than you can fathom! You may have a few questions on how your day will pan out and how on earth I will keep a tab on all those important photographs you would like me to capture on your big day. Fret not! I have it covered. I have come up with a quick cheat-sheet for your sanity and to make sure that we don’t miss out taking a photograph of Aunt Matilda who flew out all the way from Maine for your wedding! Please feel free to print out this list and mark off the shots you would like me to capture. It would be incredibly helpful if you could mention the name of that person (eg: Bridesmaid: Sarah) so when I am calling people to join you for their group shot, I can use their names. Of course, feel free to add any shots I may have missed. Every wedding is different!

Wedding Party

__ Bride alone (full, half, close-up)

__ Bride and Groom (full, half, close-up)

__ Bride with Maid of Honor

__ Bride with Bridesmaids

__ Bride with Flowergirl

__ Bride with Bridesmaids, Flowergirl

__ Bride & Groom with entire wedding party

__ Groom with Best Man

__ Bride with groomsman

__ Groom with bridesmaids

__ Groom with Groomsmen

__ Groom with Ringbearer

__ Groom with Groomsmen and

Ringbearer’s Family

__ Bride with Parents

__ Bride & Groom with her Parents

__ Bride with Siblings

Bride with immediate family

__ Bride & Groom with her immediate family including spouses and children

__ Bride & Groom with her Grandparents

__ Bride & Groom with both sets of Parents

__ Groom & Bride with his Parents

__ Groom with Parents

__ Groom with Siblings

__ Groom with immediate family

__ Groom & Bride with immediate family

including spouses and children

__ Bride & Groom with his Grandparents

Ceremony
__ Processional
__ Ring Exchange
__ Unity Candle
__ Kiss
__Recessional

Reception
__ Receiving Line
__ Cake Table
__ Bride and Groom at Head Table
__ Toasts
__ Cake Cutting
__ First Dance

I’ve photographed many weddings in the past couple years. Through it all I’ve seen a lot of simple little things that people have done, or could have done, to remove stress from their wedding day. There are literally thousands of different tips out there that may or may not apply to your wedding. But I tried to narrow this down to a few which will apply to almost every wedding.

1. Have an appointed Starbucks/Caribou/Dunn Bros person. It’s rare that I go to a wedding where I don’t see Coffees in everyone’s hand as they get ready. But sometimes people end up being late, get lost looking for a Coffee Shop, or fall asleep because they could never find one. So who knows, maybe uncle Ted really wants to help with the wedding and this could be his job.

2. Have food available for the bridal party. I can’t tell you how many weddings I have been to where people run off, are late getting ready, or are just grumpy because they are hungry. If you’re all getting ready somewhere, buy a 24 pack of those big fluffy muffins from Costco. Or if it’s in the afternoon have a sandwich plate available. It’s a cheap easy solution to save a lot of hassle and stress when the bridal party might not have time in the schedule to find food.

3. Plan enough time for everything. When I meet with couples I always tell them it’s better to have extra time and be able to chill with the bridal party than having to stress about getting to the wedding on time. Things almost always get delayed somehow. So it’s good to leave a little buffer in the schedule.

4. Bring a Tide Bleach Pen. Every now and then something will get on your dress and that’s an easy way to get it off. But only use it if you have a white dress. For ivory dresses have some soap and laundry detergent available.

5. Have a bag of multi sized safety pins, bobby pins, needle and thread, and two sided tape available. I’ve seen or heard about no end to problems with wedding dresses on the day of the wedding. Be ready for adjustments here and there as you go. You may need to get sewn into your dress if the zipper breaks, but it’s better than not having a dress at all!

6. Bring comfortable shoes. Sometimes the elegant high heels are my favorite part of the brides wedding outfit. But it’s a good idea to have some cute sandals or something else available in case you need to walk over some grass or sand to get to wherever you are doing your photos. It might also be nice for later on the dance floor.

7. Sleep the night before. I’ve been to a lot of weddings where the bride or groom only got 2 hours of sleep. It makes for a really long day. Seriously plan to be in bed 10 hours before you need to get up. Then if you get to bed later or can’t fall asleep you will still end up with near 8 hours.

8. Bring some tums, aspirin and cold medicine. You never know what your body is going to do the day of the wedding and it’s nice to have something available for quick relief.

9. Email a schedule to everyone. It’s a good idea to send it the week before, then just forward the same email to everyone again the day before. I’ve also seen people print the schedule on business cards or little 3×5 cards and hand them out at the rehearsal dinner. It’s a simple way for everyone to keep it in their pocket or purse and not be calling the bride 20 times on the morning of the wedding asking when and where they should be.

10. Plan the ride situation. Make sure everyone who needs a ride has one. I’ve been to many weddings where people end up making multiple trips between locations to get everyone to the right place. Make sure you know who’s driving who where so that the bride and groom won’t need to worry about it.

11. Make sure someone is responsible for clean up. Make sure someone other than the bride or groom is in charge of making sure the hotel room where you got ready, or the dressing room at the church is cleaned and all the left over stuff is collected.

12. Plan a getaway time and make it adjustable. It kind of depends on your crowd. But It’s usually better to leave when people are still excited and enjoying the party instead of looking at their watches cause it’s 1:00am and they are wondering when you will leave. Plan a time, but be ready to leave a little earlier to stay a little later depending on how the crowd looks.

13. Have your honeymoon bag packed and in the right car. This has also caused many delays and awkward moments when the bride and groom hop in the limo as everyone cheers them off, but then the limo backs up and the groom jumps back out to find who has the keys for the best man’s car because the bride’s suitcase is still in there.

14. Don’t stress. I put this last but it’s probably the most important. Things might go wrong, and delays might happen. But in the end you’re still getting married and it doesn’t really matter. Enjoy the day, laugh about the bloopers, give people lots of hugs, and smile.

Source: http://www.lukasvandyke.com/ - a WONDERFUL photographer who's Mom I went to church with. She told me about his work and I love his style!! Check him out!

tips & suggestions for your wedding day!

2011-04-30T18:46:00.000-05:00

I found this while reading an article on MNBride.com and could not agree more! Read on...

Consider the light and backdrop of your getting ready room

A cluttered Sunday School room with toys on the floor and posters on the wall, no windows and fluorescent lighting is going to create a challenge for any photographer. Not only will it be difficult to find a clean background for your photos, the light will be flat and off-color. Instead, you might think about getting ready at home or in a hotel room where there is ample light and a cleaner background. But make sure that you tidy up before the photographer arrives!

Provide ample time for portraits

You don’t want your wedding day to feel hectic or rushed, so work with your photographer when you set your schedule. This will ensure you have enough time for relaxed portrait sessions, especially of the two of you alone.

Light your dance

Keeping some room lights on during your dance can help your photos in two ways. First, the photographer’s camera will have some light for focusing. Second, there can be more depth to your photo because you will be able to see more of the what was in the background of your reception venue. Another little bonus is that guests who choose not to dance will still have enough light to enjoy time together and for picking up their belongings when they go home for the evening.

Have your hair and makeup professionally done

You will be photographed more on this day than probably any other day in your life, so it’s a good idea to have your hair and makeup done by a professional. Have tests done of both to make sure that even though a professional is doing it, you still look like yourself.

Choose a longer veil

I like to suggest to my brides to choose a longer veil, as they can add a beautiful element to photographs when filled with sunlight and blowing in the wind.

Check with the venue about photography restrictions

Most churches and ceremony venues will tell you ahead of time what restrictions, if any, they have for photography during the ceremony. If these are not communicated to the photographer, and the photographer breaks them, things can get ugly and create unnecessary tension on your wedding day.

Alert your photographer to key moments

Key moments like the grand march, first dance and cake cutting can happen seemingly without warning. Make sure your photographer is aware and ready when they are about to happen.

For outdoor weddings, consider the time of day

Having your wedding outdoors at noon in summer is going to pose a lot of lighting challenges for your photographer. At least one of you is likely to be squinting into the sun during there ceremony, which is not only unflattering in photographs, but very uncomfortable! Consider choosing a time either earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon or evening when the light is softer. You might also look for a large area of shade for your ceremony to take place in. Shade is comfortable for both you and your guests and creates soft, even lighting for everyone.

Choose an experienced videographer

Photographers and videographers have very similar goals for the wedding day. Experienced photographers and videographers generally know how to be professional and work together so that they aren’t stepping on each others toes all day. If you’re going to have both, it is recommend to give one the lead role, so that in a situation where they are both trying to get a specific shot from a specific angle, the other knows to give the lead priority.

Relax and enjoy your day

Your wedding day should be one of the best days of your life! It can also be one of the most stressful. I have found that couples who are able to “let go” of their wedding stress and just relax enjoy their friends, family and each other tend to have the best photos.

source: http://mnbride.com/stories/ways-get-better-wedding-photos

The Spring Thing {$99 Portrait Special)

2011-04-27T13:16:00.002-05:00

Valid until May 31, 2011.

Not valid for Senior Portrait Appointments.

Appointments required. DVD is subject to MN Sales Tax.

megan & bennett {e-session}

2011-04-18T15:12:00.000-05:00

so, i woke up on saturday morning with afton covered in snow and the FIRST thing i thought of was "oh no! i have megan and bennett's shoot tomorrow!"....needless to say by the time 3pm rolled around the snow had completely melted, the sun was shining & the sky was blue! megan was VERY brave and wore her cute little pink sundress despite the chilly breeze.

we met at lake harriett bandshell and used the picnic area around the bandshell for their cute photos with the vintage bike. we initially shot their engagement session last year (in the studio), but i honestly felt that their fun personalities were stunted by being inside, so i asked them if they would mind redoing their shoot outdoors. i'm SO glad they agreed. below are SOME of my favorite shots of them.

i look VERY forward to shooting their wedding in July this year! they are going for a beach theme with starfish, sand dollars and shells mixed with the cutest couple will make a FABULOUS wedding!

kai & brady {just married!}

2011-04-09T20:35:00.000-05:00

i met kai and her mom at caribou last year to discuss her wedding day and my photography services. i followed kai on facebook and was blown away at how photogenic she was.

kai & brady were married at her home church, crown of life lutheran church in st. paul and they had their reception at the fantastic Landmark Center. We shot her bridal party photos at rice park with a stunning view of the landmark behind them. the weather was just perfect for the beginning of april, in the high 50's and blue skies! could not have asked for anything better!

thank you kai for giving me those extra moments at your reception to get your high dramatic images on the stairwell! you were AWESOME! congratulations and thank you for chosing donae cotton photography!

here are a few favorites from their wedding day! congratulations kai & brady!

thank you jenn kelly for your 2nd shooting assistance!

SOLE SEARCHING!

2011-04-09T19:16:00.001-05:00

You may already found your dream wedding gown, but who says the retail therapy is over?! You need fun accessories! SHOES BABY!

Right.....so you have your traditional wedding shoes and then you have your 'let's crank up this wedding and make a fashion statement shoes!" There are so many choices out there from buying your shoes in color to finding the perfect shoe and having it dyed to match your bouquet/bridesmaids dresses. Wearing a colorful shoe certainly makes a statement and makes for GREAT photos! It seems to be a definite trend.....a way of bucking the traditional way and living out your wedding day in color!

Whatever your choice may be...traditional or sassyliscious, make sure you take your shoes with you to your dress alterations so they have the perfect length for you and if you can't make it the whole evening in your diva shoes, snap up a pair of comfy, flat shoes (in the same shade if possible) so you can dance the night away!!

EVENTUS EVENTS MINNESOTA - why hire a wedding coordinator?

2011-02-21T13:23:00.000-06:00

I get it. You think having a wedding coordinator will be expensive and something you can do without, when in reality a wedding coordinator has huge benefits! The one thing I always stress to new brides is the fact that Wedding Coordinators have the inside scoop on vendors too! A huge potential savings. The Wedding Community is a tight community working on referring one another. If you have a good experience you tell people about it right? Planners and wedding 'peeps' have a list of preferred vendors. Some of these vendors may have not made it "BIG" yet, but are on their way to the top.....using these 'gems' will get you the best for a bit of a discount too. We have the inside scoop. If you had to ask me as a wedding photographer who I would suggest for a DJ/Flowers/Officiant and Wedding cake, I could rattle off the names without thinking of it!

Instead of me writing a blog about why to hire a wedding coordinator, I'll leave it to the pros.

Here's reasons from Eventus Events:

Why Hire a Wedding Coordinator

How exciting you’re getting married! Do you plan to have a DIY (do-it-yourself) wedding? If so, you may want to rethink that idea. Many couples attempt to plan their own wedding, some turn out great; others leave the newlyweds wondering…did we enjoy our special day? Planning a DIY wedding takes a lot of hours of planning and some very willing wedding party and family members to help you out. If you’re not crafty you may end up with something looking more like a kindergartener’s project then the high-end beautiful centerpiece you wanted.

Why not save some hassle, stress and extra trips to the massage therapist and hire a wedding coordinator? Below are several reasons why we feel we could help you make your special day one to remember and not a day to forget.

1. Support – Eventus staff members are connected in the industry and are able to leverage our resources to make your dreams come true. Hiring Eventus offers relief to you and your soon-to-be better-half, not to mention we’ll deal with your mother and future mother-in-law. No more pulling your hair out!

2. Talented - Eventus thinks outside the box which brings creativity to each wedding we produce. We are versatile, which allows us to create an impressive wedding vision that fits all your requests and your budget. Once we have the vision we turn on our logistical side to make it happen. Also, we keep up with wedding trends by attending industry meetings so your wedding will be spectacular.

3. Customer Service – Eventus works with the highest levels of professional competency and standards. We don’t just plan weddings; we create an engaging environment for you and your guests to experience. We are masters of the stage and always have a Plan B that can be set into action at any time. Meaning if it rains, we’ve got you covered. Our professional demeanor and can-do attitude is noted by our clients.

Contact them today to learn more. www.eventusmn.com

Amanda 651-260-2553

David 612-250-9699

natalie + matt = just married!

2011-02-19T20:21:00.000-06:00

i had the joy of photographing natalie & matt's wedding last saturday in stillwater at the st. michael's catholic church followed by their reception at the great hall in st. paul. their wedding day was certainly a great weather day in winter! blue skies and 40 degrees! the sun came out and it was the PERFECT DAY FOR A WEDDING!

jenn kelly (moments shared photography and studio betties pin up and boudoir photography) 2nd shot for me and assisted in setting up the lighting for the formals. THANKS JENN!

i have watched my style morph over the years and love the look of natalie and matt's wedding - classic meets edgy and high fashion! i loved how natalie trusted us when we asked her to climb in the window! there is nothing better than a trusting, adventurous bride.....the type of bride i seem to be attracting these days...which is PERFECTLY fine by me! think outside the box when it comes to your bridal portraits - it seems silly - but watch the oscars, the grammys etc and mimic their poses - practice in front of a mirror so you know how to strike these poses on your big day. come with a sassy attitude - after-all - you ARE the prettiest woman at the wedding after-all - work it to your advantage. we can also work on some ideas/poses together when i do your engagement session.

the one thing i really appreciate it on a wedding day is the gift of time. most of the dramatic shots taken on the day required lighting set up and posing. when booking your photographer, make sure you give them enough time to get these shots for you. natalie and matt gave jenn and i a good solid uninterrupted hour to capture the intimacy between them and the shots we took below. i say uninterrupted as the bridal party and family did not interrupt or run things past the bride....it was AWESOME! thank you natalie!!

natalie has the most contagious laugh you'll ever hear. the love between matt and her is so evident - you can see it in their eyes as they look at each other. below are some of jenn and my favorite shots of the day! enjoy!

engagement sessions

2011-01-01T21:07:00.005-06:00

an engagement session is a wonderful opportunity for me to break the ice with the bride and groom to be! it gives me an opportunity to interact with them one on one without any distractions of keeping to the timing for the wedding day, the bridal party waiting for them or their wedding coordinator in the background tapping their watch! ;) {i still love you wedding planners!}

i typically enter the engagement session with a plan. first off, i add my brides as friends on facebook and then do some stealth sneaking around to see what they like...other photographer's styles they have "LIKED" on their FB page, clothing designers, photos they have up of themselves as their profile pics etc..... this gives me an insight as to what they really like....so going into their session i can personalize their preference for their engagement shoot. are they city slickers who want a modern backdrop of the city at sunset or are they nature lovers equipped with a picnic basket of tasty snacks and a bottle of champagne?

this also gives me the chance to direct them so when the wedding day comes they know what i mean when i give them an instruction for a pose. every couple is unique and i want to be able to get a sneak peek of who you are and put it in photo form. before we meet for the engagement i like to have a conversation with the couple {or just the bride....come on...we all know guys come to these shoots kicking and screaming and with a little bribery!}. i like to discuss the theme for their shoot and figure out where they would like to have their engagement session done including choice of clothing, props needed for their unique shoot {balloons, picnic basket, a small table and 2 chairs for your romantic tea party in a field of grass.....oh i can go on and on for ideas}.

a photo of 2 people in love is great....but what's even better is being able to see the chemistry between the two of them. their interaction together....the laughs shared and the dynamic of their relationship.

there are a few categories I have come up with to help make the session all about you. let me know which style suits you so I can start brainstorming some awesome ideas for your session:

city slickers: minneapolis or st paul city skyline, graffiti on walls, railway tracks, bridges, vibrant colors, great architecture, edgy and full of contrast

twilight forest: surrounded by trees with the sunlight filtering through, the colors of leaves, the color of the sky, shooting mostly in the shade and using trees/cliffs/possibly a waterfall as your backdrop. vignetting around edges with light painted to highlight the background/foreground.

beach bums: near the water, sand, surf and sun! bright colors, whites, the color of the sky, pants rolled up and standing in the water, splashing, picnic basket

field of flowers: standing amongst wildflowers or long whispy grass, sunny day, blue sky with poofy clouds, a nice quilt on the grass, picnic basket, bottle of champagne, chocolate covered strawberries…..romantic with soft colors and soft edges.

artsy & edgy: let's meet at a museum or art gallery and have some fun perusing the arts. sharp angles, pops of color, high contrast, modern, edgy & artistic

MN landmarks: well, where do you begin on this one? we can do a variety of locations focusing on the backgrounds being a landmark, be in the city, your favorite river, bridge, park, lake…….this is your call. you tell me where to meet you and we'll go on our whirlwind tour of the city.

studio session: 68 degrees no matter the climate outside. I have a variety of chairs, backdrops, props. let's chat and get it personalized around your style. the studio is located in northeast minneapolis in the northwind lofts on 2400 2nd street, minneapolis. appointment is necessary.

here are some handy dandy tips for the engagement session:

Clothing:
gosh! this one is always hard. i say to be on the safe side, pretend you're going to be in a gap commercial or an old navy commercial, or even better...abercrombie and fitch! avoid wearing conflicting patterns....you in stripes and him wearing plaid. it would SCREAM! wear what you are comfortable in and look at yourself in the mirror from every angle before you decide on your choice of outfit. does it flatter you? you want to feel good...if you feel good you will exude confidence and the camera likes that! ;)

Makeup:

have your hair and make up done with a professional! how often do you get a chance to have professional photos taken? below are some artists i highly recommend: {click on their business name to go directly to their websites}

sarah swager from concrete and grace
brett dorian or any of her artists at brett dorian artistry
sarah sponberg with MN bridal make up
or go to your local MAC store for a make-up application

if you're a donae cotton photography bride, let's get a date on the calendar for your engagement session! looking very forward to it!

have a great day!
donae

bye bye 2010!

2010-12-31T22:11:00.001-06:00

what a year 2010 has been! i am blown away on how my business has grown purely on referrals from happy customers! thank you all for making my dream a reality. i feel that i have finally found my own style of photography and i hope to continue to grow in creativity with every new photo shoot. i finally had a logo created {that i love} that matches my style of shooting and the idea behind my style. taking indoor ideas outdoors and bringing in some fun with a vintage twist.

2010 brought on the dream of working out of a studio! Click on STUDIO to have a sneak peek of the space. i share this space with 3 other photographers and so far it has been awesome. i store most of my props on site and it's a pretty cool looking space if i have to say so myself! it's in the warehouse district and has a new york loft look to it. exposed brick, wood floors, windows and over 4,000 square feet! we also rent out the space for private events! although i really still prefer getting out there in natural lighting and having really cool backdrops of the city/waterfalls/trees etc, it's great to have for newborn sessions or when mother nature isn't playing too fair!

my business has blossomed in my bookings for weddings - the fun thing is that most of my weddings over the last few years have been local....now my bookings include duluth, bemidji, south dakota, washington and a possible cancun wedding too! i've done some amazing family portraits this year, including maternity photos and made new contacts and clients and of course....my 2nd favorite... newborn sessions! my brides from 2-3 years ago are having families of their own and i'm so privileged to photograph their pregnant bellies for them and then their newborn babies. what an honor!

this year i got involved with a networking group called the 'twin cities wedding professionals'. i have made incredible friends and business partners, people i can bounce ideas off of or even call for some advice or lean on for support. for that i am sooooo grateful. you know who you are......THANK YOU! i cannot begin to stress the importance of networking for business. i have watched my business double its income purely on referrals from colleagues. i am so blessed.

another highlight is making a new friend that i met at west photo. i rent equipment from this store and jenn and i clicked! {pardon the pun}. jenn has been fabulous is assisting with a few weddings this year. she is a genius with the canon equipment as well as lighting. i feel inspired when we hang out together and i look forward to continuing our friendship and watching each other's businesses BOOM! jenn! you're incredible. thanks for all your help this year!

and how can i not talk about my 2010 without mentioning the joy of my life...my son, riley channing. he has grown so much this year. he's such a funny little boy with a huge personality and the bluest eyes i have ever seen! i thank GOD daily for him. we tried for 10 long years to get pregnant and i still look at him and say to myself "man! this is my baby!"

and here are a few of my photo shoots done this year as i recap 2010's photography projects.

here's wishing you all a wonderful, goal-achieving 2011!

take care!

donae

andy & elise {summer wedding}

2010-12-31T11:52:00.004-06:00

insert 1 sassy couple, a trip to bemidji, a friend and 2nd shooter, jenn kelly, over $15,000 worth of equipment, a crappy hotel room, good food, great company, the bluest sky you'll ever see on a wedding day, a tiny white chapel that you swear was from the set of 'little house on the prairie', plus a tent reception on a lake and you'll have yourself a really beautiful wedding!

i have so many favorite images from this wedding! below are just a few. it was a happy wedding, filled with awesome friendships, bonding of 2 families and incredible memories.

andy & elise are family of mine and i was thrilled to capture their amazing wedding day for them. thanks for choosing me you guys! now. . . . get cracking on those babies! love you!

hair and make up by jenn kelly {moments shared photography and studio betties}.

you did a great job jenn!

thanks to 2nd shooter and friend, jenn kelly for your assistance! much appreciated!!

kari & mike's vintage wedding

2010-12-29T22:12:00.000-06:00

i've had an incredible year with weddings this year and i finally have some time to try catch up on my blogs. every couple deserves their own blog. so, let's go back to when there was no snow on the ground as i remember mike & kari's wedding!

the fist time i met mike & kari was at a caribou coffee shop in downtown minneapolis. there was such a cool connection between us and i knew their wedding would be spectacular.

the ceremony and reception were held at the outing lodge in stillwater, mn. it's an old-fashioned, frozen-in -time bed and breakfast with an incredible garden for an outdoor ceremony and a huge dining room for a reception. i was in my element! i adore anything vintage. when i rolled up in my car and saw the old fashioned cars, i melted!

their ceremony was intimate and genuine. kari had the biggest grin on her face and the love and adoration on her face for her new husband, while exchanging their vows was very evident. after the ceremony we headed into the garden for their portraits. i brought a red wingback chair with me as a prop and a chandelier. it went perfectly with the theme of the wedding. this was by far the most classic wedding i have shot to date.

i edited the photos featured below with a 'vintage preset' i created in lightroom. it kinda gives it a great twist on the whole old-fashioned theme. i love it and so did the bride/groom! yay!

wishing you a lifetime of happiness mike and kari!! thank you for choosing me to photograph your wedding!

amy & jeff {engaged}

2010-08-15T18:29:00.000-05:00

amy & jeff met at caribou coffee on grand avenue, st paul and how fitting to start the photo shoot there over a cup of amy's favorite caribou beverage - a mocha frapuccino! the 2 of them match each other like 2 little coffee beans in a pod!

after caribou we went to rice park for a picnic with juice and the most darling chocolate covered strawberries. this is where jeff proposed to amy! they were the yummiest strawberries i've tasted in a while. how can you wrong with minnesota fresh farm strawberries covered in chocolate!? stewart, their dashing pug came along for photos and he behaved so well and was just a little charmer!

after taking their romantic photos, i decided to change it up and have some fun with the balloons amy brought along! i'm glad amy didn't fly away with those balloons. a storm was coming in and the wind kicked up pretty fast! i'm sure jeff would have rescued you amy.....and of course, i would have captured the whole thing on camera! ;) flying away with the wind definitely would have brought a new concept to amy's favorite book: "gone with the wind!"

after the fun with the balloons we headed towards irvine park in st. paul. i love this area and i knew amy & jeff would too. it has a great water fountain which makes for romantic shots! judge for yourself. i love this new editing look. it's not black and white and it's not sepia - it's called creamtone. it's romantic and dreamy and a little old fashioned!

i had a wonderful time hanging out with amy & jeff.

they are an amazing couple and i look VERY forward to shooting their wedding!

hair & make up by jenn kelly! good job again jenn!

take care!

donae

ellie's senior photos

2010-08-15T16:37:00.000-05:00

i honestly don't think it could have been any hotter or more humid the day i shot ellie's senior photos. despite everyone dripping in sweat and being parched...the shoot turned out REALLY cute! we met at nicollet island inn and walked along the riverfront for most of these shots. we stopped in at the movie house for some much need ice water and A/C and just had a grand old time! ellie is super sweet and is a wonder in front of the camera. i am shooting her sister's wedding {emma} next year and they both have a way with the camera. it certainly makes my job as a photographer easier!

gone are the days when you sit in a studio....it's all about getting out and having fun, trying different locations and having a ton of fun getting outside. my senior portraits run at $160 for an hour's photo shoot {with unlimited changes of clothing} and i can meet you at your location of chose. you receive a hi resolution dvd of all the edited photos with a copyright release for printing. start booking for your fall photo shoots soon. I am almost fully booked.

email me on donaecotton@hotmail.com or visit my website at www.donaecottonphotography.com and fill in the 'contact me' section.

donae

a magical family photo shoot in an enchanted forest!

2010-07-20T20:14:00.000-05:00

what a precious family! we rendezvoused on sunday afternoon and made our way to our little spot on the st.croix river. the weather could not have been more perfect for this family photo shoot. the beauty of this spot blows my mind away. you have the river, the sandstone rock formations, a cool cave and what seems to be an enchanted forest! this place is magical and i am thrilled with the way the sun beams fell on this family...almost as if God was shining down His love on them. Magical is the best word to describe this session.

i thought i'd share a sneak peak - these are just a handful of my favorite photographs.

have a great evening!
donae

Tropical Ballroom = Dance lessons!!

2010-07-19T20:37:00.000-05:00

We recently held our Twin Cities Wedding Professionals monthly meeting at the Tropical Ballroom in Woodbury and oh boy! Was it fun!!! Thanks James and Tricia Wood for hosting us!!

So, I don't know about you. but deep inside my body, I am a Top 40 dancer. I know what moves I want to do, but when it comes to actually executing them, I don't have 2 left feet, I have 3! Solution: I am gonna sign myself up (along with my husband who is yet to be alerted of this fact) for dance lessons. I just want to learn a few stealth moves, so when the day comes when I get the opportunity to actually dance at a wedding, instead of taking photographs all the time, I can totally bewilder the onlookers who will be standing there, jaws dropped and bat away the begs and pleads to compete for a round of "So you think you can Dance?"

Actually, in all seriousness, this is a great idea for any couple who would like to learn to dance. Imagine your wedding day. The first dance, typically uneventful and dull...romantic,,,,,oh yes, but no major dance moves are pulled...let's get real......well, after a few lessons from Tropical Ballroom with James & Tricia Wood, you'll be the talk of the dance floor.

The teach the following dances:

Bachata
Bolero
Cha-Cha
Country 2-Step
Cumbia
East Coast Swing
Foxtrot
Hustle
Line Dancing
Mambo
Merengue
Night Club 2-Step
Paso Doble
Polka
Quickstep
Rumba
Salsa
Samba
Swing
Tango
Viennese Waltz
Waltz
Wedding
West Coast Swing

(651) 414-0644 or www.tropicalballroom.com

They even have PRIVATE lessons!!!!

What a fun couple! Cha cha cha!

All the best for your awesome business!
Donae

I'd like you to meet Mike Anderson from Crystal Entertainment - Wedding Entertainment Director

2010-07-14T22:23:00.000-05:00

Recently, I had the joy of having a lunch appointment with Mike Anderson from Crystal Entertainment and let me tell ya.....I was very impressed with his drive for the perfect, personalized wedding experience. Mike is a genuine guy with a genuine passion for weddings and making your wedding ALL ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT and something that people will remember for a long time.

Mike graduated from the University of Wisconsin at River Falls, with a degree in speech to medications and has been a DJ for over 14 years. He started with a local multi-op DJ company. In 2003 Mike helped two friends start Crystal Entertainment. After a few years of performing at most of the events he wanted to make Crystal Entertainment his full-time career. He began taking that step, by buying out his partners. That's when the process of becoming a wedding expert began!

Mike was already a member of the Midwest Association of Professional Disc Jockeys, being a member of this Association helped him on his path to becoming an expert in weddings and DJing. In Mike's career, he has attended many conventions, subscribed to many trade magazines, and has found excellent mentors. Mike's attended many a workshop and classes that has pushed him and trained him to polish his talent.

In 2007 Mike was elected Metro Chapter President of the Midwest Association of Professional Disc Jockeys. This year he was elected Executive President as well as one of his proudest moments, being accepted into the Wedding Entertainment Directors Guild. www.wedguild.com - way to go Mike!

I asked Mike about weddings and this was his response: "The thing that strikes me as weird is that a couple, who is getting married get very excited when they get engaged and then are expected to plan their first five figure party. If you ask a couple what they want from their wedding day a majority of them will say they want it to be fun....but if you ask them how to make it fun they will give you a blank stare. The role I want to play for those couples is someone who can help them create the fun! I am also very passionate about showing couples how their wedding reception doesn't have to be like other were wedding receptions that they've seen. Yes, they may want a grand entrance, a garter toss a bouquet toss etc, but each of those moments don't have to be done the way they've seen them before. I love to work with couples and bring in their personalities into each ceremony. Every special moment that happens during a wedding reception is actually a ceremony and each one can have specific meaning and purpose to each couple. I help couples see their reception as a theater production. There is a prelude and opening, a middle, and an end. Every part can include their family and friends. My goal when I work with couples is to give them an end result with all of their guests saying, “Your wedding reception was the best I have ever been to.” I want to give each guest memories that they take away with them. Every time they see the couple those memories come flooding back. That is a true gift for the couple because the biggest day in their life continues with stories and memories."

In the way that I approach weddings each wedding is specific to the bride and groom. I cannot bring one element from one wedding and do it the exact same way at another wedding. It just wouldn't seem right. At the end of the night it just has to be their wedding no one else's.

Mike and his hand-selected DJs share a passion for providing a memorable, unique entertainment experience. Crystal Entertainment allows for the flexibility and creativity to match the needs of each client. If you are looking for not just a DJ, but an Entertainment Director - who guides the eb and flow of your wedding to be one of great quality, personalization and romance, you need Mike Anderson from Crystal Entertainment!

I am blessed beyond measure to be surrounded by people like Mike Anderson from the Twin Cities Wedding Professionals! We strive for excellence, amazing customer service and something you just can't put your finger on........but our clients know it when they experience our services.

It's a pleasure to know you Mike!

All the very best. I am sure our paths will cross at a wedding real soon!

Donae

lisa & pat {hitched}

2010-07-03T20:42:00.000-05:00

lisa & pat! what a sweet husband & wife they make! when i walked into the bridal room and saw lisa as a bride for the 1st time, all dressed, hair & make up done......i gasped! she looked STUNNING! her dress fit her personality down to a "T" and her hair was very old hollywood glamor with the twists at the bottom and the parting across her forehead. beautiful!

they were married at a beautiful catholic church in alexandria and had their reception on the lake at the lakeside ballroom in glenwood. despite the pouring rain and claps of thunder, god blessed us with a break in the clouds for some awesome beach photos. lisa had the most amazing bridal assistants i have EVER met. they were there with a white waterproof tarp so lisa's dress wouldn't get wet/dirty and ran back and forth on errands. i seriously would love to hire them for my photo shoots! they were amazing! lisa has this smile that makes me giggle. she is so animated and has the shiniest twinkle in her eye. brains certainly run strong in this couple. pat is studying medicine and lisa is an engineer! i can't wait to meet their clever kids! ;)

all the best for your new chapter in life lisa & pat! stay in touch and call me when those babies come along one day! ;)

donae

christine & brandon {just married}

2010-07-03T19:29:00.000-05:00

for as long as i have known christine, she has always dreamt of her fairy-tale, sparkly wedding. dreaming of those perfect little touches and hand-made place cards, beaded clips for her hair, the perfect bouquet and the PERFECT groom. well her turn finally arrived where she married her air force pilot! brandon and christine met while both serving in the u.s military air force and you could not have a more perfect couple than these two!

christine & brandon's wedding was held at the bearpath country club in eden prairie under a white pergola while their family's and loved ones watched as they tied the knot. it was a hot, summer's day but God blessed us with a nice breeze to cool things off. their reception was held in the ballroom under a canopy of organza draping and tiny white fairy lights. they danced their first dance to 'you make my smile' by uncle kracker. romance, fun and a smashing wedding party was the order of the day. i had such fun shooting christine and brandon's wedding and have made good friends in the process.

all the best for your life as husband & wife! enjoy your honeymoon in maine!

here are my favorite verses of their song: (Click on the link to listen to the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffej15-Dgl0&feature=related)

You make me smile like the sun, fall out of bed
Sing like bird, dizzy in my head
Spin like a record, crazy on a Sunday night

You make me dance like a fool, forget how to breathe
Shine like gold, buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Oh, you make me smile

Don't know how I lived without you
'Cause every time that I get around you
I see the best of me inside your eyes
You make me smile

kai and brady sitting in a tree! K.I.S.S.I.N.G!

2010-06-17T22:52:00.000-05:00

i had the joys of photographing kai and brady's engagement session last weekend - as i came tearing into town from shooing lisa and pat's wedding in alexandria, mn! kai is a model and well......you can tell she knows how to 'work the camera'....it was refreshing and i had a great time with them! can't wait to do the POSH photo shoot with you kai!
(click on the collage to enlarge)

tiffhanie & kevin's e-session

2010-06-06T09:58:00.000-05:00

kevin and tiffhanie are such a sweet couple. we had a great day shooting their engagement session at 2 locations. the first at mill city and the second on the university of minnesota's campus. tiffhanie and kevin met on campus, so there was some significant memories there. it was a stunning day and as you can see, they are very much in love! their wedding planner (and a good friend of mine), lori snyder from www.veiledevents.com joined us for the photo shoot and was awesome by helping to bags and signs as well as give some really cute photo ideas! loved it!

all the best tiff and kevin!

need senior photos???

2010-05-26T22:48:00.000-05:00

need senior photos? i have some amazing, original locations within the twin cities! $140 gets you the link and a high resolution dvd for printing purposes! email me on donaecotton@hotmail.com to check for availability - have some dates in june/july available.

marla and jeremy tie the knot!

2010-05-26T21:59:00.000-05:00

ahhh jeremy and marla! what a great couple! i had the pleasure of getting to know these 2 while doing their engagement session downtown minneapolis. i knew from the start that jeremy was a character and marla was as genuine as she was beautiful....inside and out. their wedding was on the 100 foot yacht, the majestic star on the st. croix river in stillwater, mn.
they were surrounded my close friends and family and let me tell ya.....there wasn't a time during that wedding when people weren't having a good time! i had a blast!

marla and jeremy met each other as little kids and marla told her mom 'one day i'm going to marry jeremy carlson'......and well......she did!

all the best for your future mr & mrs carlson! i can't wait to photograph your kiddies one day (i know they're gonna have beautiful dimples!)

take care!
donae

heather and chris get hitched...old hollywood/vintage style!

2010-05-12T20:47:00.000-05:00

i've known heather and chris for about 4.5 years and you know when you say "ahhh...you make such a good couple?" - well, you can't get any truer a statement that that! heather is a fun, wacky, talented, God-fearing lady and Chris is a gem! He's a gentle soul who is a genuine as a person can get! They both love the Lord and it's obvious that they 'are meant to be'.

when heather told me she bought her bridesmaids' dresses from a ebay, i knew this would be a fun wedding - how much more spontaneous can you get than that?

their theme was vintage and as soon as i saw heather with her veil, i had to gasp.....she was STUNNING! can we say audrey hepburn goes to hollywood!!?

their wedding was fun. it was a little chilly, but the sun was out and the sky was as blue as sapphires!

all in all it was a fabulous wedding, with so much love, support and well wishes from their family and friends!

all the very best for your lives as mr. and mrs. kempf!

love you guys!
donae

christine & brandon's engagement session

2010-04-23T20:54:00.000-05:00

i've known christine since 2004 when we worked at the hilton minneapolis together and ever since that day, christine has dreamt of getting married. i am so happy that her day is finally coming (july 2010). i have no doubt that she will be a beautiful bride and her wedding will be full of purple, pink, sparkles and princess dreams! love ya!

here are a few of my favorite photos from their engagement session.

feel free to click on the collage to enlarge it and leave 'reactions' by clicking the appropriate box.

have a great day!!

christine - the victorias secret hidden angel!

2010-04-20T20:15:00.000-05:00

do you know how much fun it is to photograph someone who knows how to "work the camera"? i shot christine and brandon's engagement session on sunday and at the end decided to have some fun with christine and her skills. here are a few of my favorites. enjoy!

Three Sons Signature Cuisine - 10th year birthday party!

2010-04-18T21:46:00.000-05:00

three sons signature cuisine sure know how to throw a party! they threw a 10 year open house birthday bash celebrating 10 years of catering, the remodel of blaisdell manor, SPRING and most importantly, to say "Thank You" to the many wonderful people they have been blessed to work with this past decade and here are a few photos to summarize the evening.

their attention to detail is stellar, their food is delicious, service superb and they have a ton of fans! it's always so awesome to see what amazing taste-bud tantalizers they will come up with....and with all the mmmm's and ahhhhh's heard around the place, they hit the jackpot once again.

three sons signature cuisine own 2 venues: the blaisdell manor and st. anthony main event center, which are GREAT for weddings as well as meeting venues, graduations, parties, etc etc!!

you can count on the team at Three Sons Kitchen to serve all of your meeting needs with their team of talented chefs and their from-scratch kitchen. whether you need filling and delicious food for a breakfast, lunch, break snack, or an hors d'ouevres receptions, they are available on 24-hours notice to prepare and deliver your meals fresh and on-time.

for more information or to book your wedding, business meeting, party or for any catering needs, contact:

THREE SONS SIGNATURE CUISINE

Main Office:

2322 Blaisdell Avenue South

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404

Phone: (612) 874-0880

Fax: (612) 874-0139

Email: catering@threesonssignature.com

marla and jeremy e-session

2010-04-14T22:09:00.000-05:00

you know when you meet a couple and you instantly connect? well, that's what it was like when i met marla and jeremy on sunday for the 1st time. they are a genuine, loving and FUN couple. it was a stunning day downtown minneapolis and the stone arch bridge was alive with cyclists, runners and people out enjoying the day. here are a few shots of their engagement session. i found the really cool, zooty sports car and we used that as a prop. to the owner.....i promise we didn't smudge it or dent it. i even took out your license plate number! looking forward to the wedding in stillwater on a cruise liner! yeah!

**click on the collage to preview in a large format**

half a dozen reasons to smile!

2010-04-12T18:57:00.000-05:00

you know the term "runs like a well-greased engine?". well that's how the schuett family's home is run! when i came into julie schuett's home with the plan of photographing her 6 kids, i will admit, i was a little nervous. it was a busy household, yet very clean and organized. the kids were all so well-mannered and an absolute thrill to be around. we went to really cool places around summit avenue....places i didn't even know existed. we had so much fun and i have found a really cool family. we all got a long like a house on fire and since the shoot, i have visited them again, taking along my husband, my baby and even my golden retriever! nothing like introducing the WHOLE family to them right? i look forward to photographing this family for years to come!

take care!

donae cotton

for a larger version of this collage, CLICK IT!

josh at the teddy bear park in stillwater

2010-04-12T14:27:00.000-05:00

when jessica & tyler asked if i would take photos of josh for his birthday i was very excited. josh is a cute, energetic little guy who has the cheekiest little smile! i came straight from another photo shoot (wearing heels) and realized that i didn't bring a pair of flats with me for josh's shoot....so i promptly removed my shoes as i followed josh around the park as he hopped from one attraction to the next. he was a good boy and i am sure mom and dad bribed him to be cooperative with the 'lady with the camera" with cookies....because he cooperated so well! see last photo! :)

thanks for being so much fun josh!

i love old stuff!

2010-04-12T11:24:00.000-05:00

i had the pleasure of visiting the american swedish institute and oh man! what a beautiful building. this place is filled with history, the most beautiful chandeliers i have ever seen, carved burgundy wood furniture, blown glass vases, wrought iron, awesome doorways, carved figurines and fine china. they are also a great choice of venue for a wedding. it's located in minneapolis and is open to the public. they have a coffee shop/tea room. go take in a cuppa and savor the history!

baby marlie

2010-04-11T20:52:00.000-05:00

i've had the joy of photographing janelle and chance's engagement, wedding, pregnancy and now the birth of their 1st born, beautiful baby Marlie. Marlie has the most perfect little mouth and the longest eyelashes. what a beautiful little angel. this is round 1 of 2 photo shoots. more to come in 2 weeks time. janelle & chance, she is breath-taking. congratulations!

baby katelyn!

2010-04-05T20:51:00.000-05:00

i love babies! it's so much fun to watch their mini personalities come through when i pick up the camera! katelyn was a BUSY little bee. believe it or not, but i actually had a friend of mine, liz ganrud, sit under a black sheet while holding katelyn so i could get shots of the little squirmy wormy! she was a doll and a good sport! below are some of my favorite shots! she's officially riley's little girlfriend! ;)

baby reid

2010-03-30T06:53:00.000-05:00

wow. i remember when riley was this small - feels just like yesterday too! here are few portraits of baby reid. the newest addition to the family. he was a squirmy wormy, but managed to settle on the 2nd round of photos. what a cute baby. i love his little cupid lips!! riley is looking forward to playing with reid once they're both a little bigger!

ms. molly's easter shoot

2010-03-24T21:00:00.000-05:00

Once there was a baby girl who loved dancing. She loved when her mommy snuggled her close and bounced her from side to side. She loved when her daddy played music and swung her up in the air. As the days and weeks and months passed by, the baby girl learned to dance on her own. She leapt to the stars and twirled ’round her throne and flitted from leaf to petal. It became clear to her mommy one day that she needed a very special tutu to wear on her dancing adventures.

what a pleasure photographing ms. molly! she is beautiful and i had a blast photographing her and editing her photos. what a treasure!

$79 baby/children easter portraits available (limited space)

2010-03-20T10:33:00.000-05:00

*$79 Children's Portrait Special

1 hour photo session - I will supply the props

Photos get done in the comfort of your own home or location of your choice.

You get the online link to all the edited photos to share with family/friends

You receive a high resolution DVD of all the photos for printing

*within a 50 mile radius of Afton. For locations further than 50 miles, please inquire

*not valid for family portraits

*pricing is per household

Call 651 829 1688 for an appointment or shoot me an email on facebook or donaecotton@hotmail.com

elise & andy's engagement - minneapolis

2010-03-15T23:25:00.000-05:00

i love what i do! andy and elise came down to the city's for their engagement session from bemidji. andy came down to ref a hockey game, so we killed 2 birds with one stone and got their engagement photos done. it was a record-breaking 62 degrees on sunday and the sky was so blue! what a lovely day! there is such a connection between andy & elise (you'll see it in the photos)...not to mention they are both so darn photogenic! i am looking very forward to their wedding this year. elise is going to make a STUNNING bride!!! here's a few of my favorite shots! enjoy!

photos taken at mill city museum, stone arch bridge, main street and church of lourdes.

Twin Cities Wedding Professionals Networking Event at the Landmark Centre

2010-03-12T22:02:00.000-06:00

Another amazing networking event - this time at the Landmark Centre in beautiful downtown St. Paul. I had always admired the 'green pointy topped building' downtown St. Paul, but I had never been inside. WOW! How beautiful! I was captivated by the columns and amber lighting, shiney floors and ambiance! Breath-taking! What a wonderful venue to hold a wedding - their rental is only $2,000 and they allow outside caterers!

Anyway.........back to my title of this blog. Had a wonderful time meeting with fellow wedding professionals. The Twin Cities Wedding Professionals Network is GROWING. I honestly feel like it's a little family reunion every time we meet! We help each other's businesses grow and refer business to one another - it's way cool! Here are a few photos from the event.

cindy & kory

2010-03-07T09:08:00.000-06:00

2010 seems to be the year of shooting family and friend's weddings! YAY! about time you guys got married! it was great hanging out with cindy and kory without having to compete for their undivided attention with other family members! we had a great time at mill city museum and the guthrie. time went by so fast that i almost ran late for my 2nd appointment. broke a few speed records to get there, but all's good!

here are some of my favorite shots of cindy and kory. they make a wonderful couple and you can sense how relaxed and in love they are with each other! it's A.W.E.S.O.M.E!

the effect i used in some of these photos is called 'aged' and is found in LIGHTROOM.

see you in may guys!!! ;)

heather and chris!

2010-03-04T21:58:00.000-06:00

ahhh! heather and chris. what a refreshing afternoon spent photographing this amazing couple. it's been amazing watching this couple's love bloom. i've known heather and chris for about 4 years and it's been so cool to watch them transition from friends to almost mr. and mrs! i can't wait to shoot your wedding in May guys!! love ya!

make up & hair extraordinaire - jim halvorson

2010-02-24T20:48:00.000-06:00

i had the pleasure of watching jim perform his magic in make up application and hair at a wedding i shot last summer. i must say, jim was an absolute delight and GREAT personality. he had the gift of making nicole and her wedding party feel and look like celebrities! jim uses MAC products and has the creativity and flair of making brides look FABULOUS! i can highly recommend jim and his 'fantabulous' gift in making brides look their absolute best for the most important day of their lives.....and what's even better is.......jim comes to YOU! if you haven't booked your make up artist and hairdresser.....get on the phone/send an email and book jim soon!

Jim Halvorson 651 698 6385

jhalvorson112@yahoo.com

the most creative cake toppers i've ever seen!

2010-02-11T22:15:00.000-06:00

TIPPY TOP CREATIONS

I attended the Twin Cities Wedding Professionals Networking Event today and had the opportunity of meeting a ton of amazing wedding professionals! There were many people that impressed me with the services they offered and I'd like to introduce you to one company that you could possibly use for your wedding. TIppy Top Creations create the most awesome cake toppers! The art is completely hand made, using no molds! Christa McKibben is the genius behind this art form made out of polymer. She uses photos of you and will make the topper look like you! Take a moment to check out her website for her other creations and for more info. I copied her pricing below.

$30.00 for small toppers with less detail such as animals.

$75.00 for a 5-6 inch one person topper with one prop. Includes wooden base.

Excellent for baby showers or birthday cakes.

$125.00 for a two person topper approximately 5-6 inches in height, details to match photos such as the flowers, dress, hair and eyes. Includes a wooden base.

These prices are meant to reflect toppers that are cartoon in nature and not an exact replica of person/persons.

For more info visit: http://www.tippytop.net/ or find her on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tippy-Top-Creations/260926948096

GENIUS!!!

2009 Wedding Awards!

2010-02-07T23:23:00.000-06:00

so....i have so many memories of the weddings i shot in 2009 - here is my 1st entry on that thought ~ more to come!

muna and zakria: most colorful, festive and loudest wedding I have ever shot! look at these colors!! the room was alive with singing. now these people knew how to PARTY!

rachel & hank: hottest wedding day in history! despite the humidity levels, the wedding was a hit! look at those fun bridesmaid's dresses. the church (st. thomas university) was stunning as well - i fell in love with the doorway!

gina & aaron: friendliest guests, the coolest grandma, beautiful flowers, cool venue (wabasha street caves)

erica and darren: coldest wedding (notice erica is sleeveless - brave girl!) and best downtown shots (hastings)

jacque & rich: most beautiful park (red cedar state trail, menomonie), wedding party willing to do anything fun, most colorful groomsmen! (don't these guys look slick?) "REAL MEN WEAR PINK!"

jessica & jonathan: most intimate wedding (they only had their close family and a few friends attend their wedding), and were married on the cliffs of taylors falls. following their ceremony we all headed to jax cafe for lunch! brilliant! ;)

tara & jesse: most adventurous wedding party and they made me cry during their ceremony! beautiful moment! oh...and coolest groomsmen!

anna & richard: cutest flower-girls in the whole world!

jessica and tyler: most colorful wedding (don't you just love all the different color dresses?) oh....and i HAVE to do it jess! worst drama! the cake didn't arrive there in one piece as there was a sharp braking in the delivery van incident! the 1st photo is the salvaged top layer. the 2nd photo is what the rest of the cake looked like. it was hiding in the kitchen and i just couldn't resist taking a peek and hey....tasting it! it TASTED good!! ;)

more awards to follow!!

new trend: seeing your groom before you say "i do"

2010-02-07T22:06:00.000-06:00

gone are the days when bad luck follows if you see your groom befoe you say "i do". to save time on your wedding day, a lot of brides are opting to see their groom before the ceremony. an intimate moment between you and him, when you lay eyes on each other for the 1st time. below is an example of janelle and chance's moment.

the story unfolds like this:

he wrote her a lovely letter she got to read before meeting him.
she cried.
she makes her way up the hill to her little 'hiding place'.
he positions himself so he can't see her as she starts walking towards him.
he turns around and sees her.
they giggle!
they embrace and have their intimate moment, while i click away!
the tension is broken, there are no nerves and we start the group photos!

by the time the ceremony rolls around, the wedding party's cheeks were hurting from laughing so much!
this frees up the wedding party after the ceremony to have fun, without having to do group shots AFTER the ceremony.
if this is what you are going to do, let me know...so we can plan your day.

2010 brides! it's time to make your engagement photo shoot appointment!

2010-02-06T09:46:00.001-06:00

*CLICK ON THIS IMAGE TO ENLARGE*

BRIDE'S CHOICE AWARDS 2010 WINNER!!

2010-02-04T20:38:00.000-06:00

I am thrilled & delighted that Donae Cotton Photography has been selected as one of the winners for the Bride's Choice Awards for 2010! (INSERT HUGE TOOTHY GRIN!) ;)

The WeddingWire Bride's Choice Awards ™ recognizes the top local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness, and professionalism. Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the organization, the Bride's Choice Awards are determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds. This year's winners represent the top five percent of WeddingWire's vendor community, which consists of over 100,000 local wedding professionals nationwide.

http://www.weddingwire.com/brides-choice-awards/minneapolis-st-paul/613-r.html (scroll down to the Photographers section)

what a great 2009 wedding season!

2010-01-30T07:48:00.000-06:00

wow! 2009 was amazing - i met so many wonderful couples and had the pleasure of capturing their special day! here's a glimpse of the couples. all the best for your marriages! take care, donae

life's journeys

2010-01-29T22:48:00.000-06:00

*click on the photo for an enlarged view*

one of the coolest things about being a photographer, is being involved in people's special, intimate moments. i photographed janelle and chance's engagement, wedding and had the privilege of doing their pregnancy shoot last week for them. janelle is radiant and chance as proud as can be. i can't wait to meet your little one! congrats again guys!

baby e.

2010-01-29T22:30:00.000-06:00

i had the pleasure of photographing mark & danielle's wedding a few years back and was delighted to hear they had a baby girl!! i called and asked them if i could come over and take some photos of their little princess and had a great time catching up and meeting baby e. she's adorable guys! enjoy her! *Click on any photo to enlarge*

bri & chris in snowy minnesota

2010-01-29T21:48:00.000-06:00

i love it when i meet a new couple for a photo shoot and i end up going over & beyond my hour slot as i am having so much fun! it was a cold, windy, snowy monday - but dispite the weather, we had a wonderful time! great meeting you guys!

princess sophia

2010-01-29T16:19:00.000-06:00

now here's a little girl that knows how to work the camera! she's a natural! isn't she adorable? thanks to connie for allowing me to use sophia as a model for my new lighting technique!

*CLICK ON THE COLLAGE FOR A LARGER VIEW*

introducing riley channing cotton!

2010-01-29T14:13:00.000-06:00

What more appropriate for a 1st blog entry than the birth of our son! Riley Channing was born on 11/16/2009 weighing in a whopping 9lbs 6oz! He is a delight and we are so in love with our little boy! We have prayed and longed for him for 8 years! Here are a few photos of our little monkey!