Meet Donae
Donae Cotton is an award-winning and published wedding and portrait photographer with a unique talent for capturing her subjects in their most authentic and beautiful moments. Born and raised in South Africa, Donae's passion for photography was sparked at a young age, and she has since honed her craft and become a sought-after photographer.
Donae's love for travel, adventure and vintage cameras has taken her to many corners of the world, and she always finds inspiration in new cultures and landscapes. Her outgoing, adventurous, and sassy personality shines through in her work, and she has a natural ability to make her clients feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera.
As a proud mama to a 16-year-old, Donae understands the importance of capturing family moments and treasuring them for a lifetime. She loves making women feel confident and empowered through her photography, and believes that every person deserves to feel beautiful and valued.
Donae's marketing and content creation skills have also earned her a reputation as a savvy entrepreneur. She is a marketing whizz who loves sharing her knowledge with others with small businesses.
Donae has lived in Toronto, Canada, Dillon, CO, Afton, MN, Hudson, WI and Maricopa, AZ. As of October 2026, Donae and her son relocated to Papillion, NE to be closer to family. Her South African accent adds an extra touch of charm to her already delightful personality. When she's not behind the camera, she can be found indulging in her favorite pastimes - antiquing, traveling to new places, cooking, decorating and always looking for that next perfect shoot location!
As of October 2026, I will be servicing Arizona, Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Kansas, Idaho and Montana. I will be based in Nebraska but am available for Out of State Weddings and Portrait Sessions - Send me a note on the travel fee and details.
All photographs, images, and visual content displayed on this website are the exclusive property of Donae Cotton/Donae Cotton Photography and are protected by applicable copyright laws. All photographs created by Donae Cotton/Donae Cotton Photography during any photoshoot, whether commissioned or otherwise, are likewise subject to copyright ownership and protection unless expressly agreed otherwise in a separate written agreement.
I retain the exclusive right to reproduce, publish, display, distribute, license, modify, edit, retouch, crop, alter, transform, and otherwise use my photographs and images in any manner I deem appropriate, including for portfolio, website, social media, advertising, promotional, editorial, and other business purposes.
No photograph or image may be copied, downloaded, reproduced, altered, distributed, published, sold, or used for commercial or personal purposes without my prior written permission, unless otherwise permitted by applicable law or expressly provided for in a written agreement.
By engaging my photography services, clients acknowledge that the creation of photographs does not automatically transfer copyright ownership to them. Any specific usage rights, licenses, restrictions, or transfers of copyright must be expressly agreed to in writing.
I reserve the right to make artistic and creative decisions regarding the editing, retouching, color grading, cropping, composition, and other alterations of photographs I create.
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