Kate Orne was born in Stockholm, Sweden, but is now based in New York City. For almost ten years she has largely focused on issues surrounding women and children in developing countries. From 1992-94 she was an editor at Interview Magazine and since then has been a commercial photographer, specializing in portraiture and fashion.

In 2002, Orne established myfarawayfamily.org , an organization providing Afghan refugee children with access to education and their widowed mothers with micro loans and guidance on how to start their own businesses. It also provides food distributions in Kabul and Peshawar among refugees. Her work has been included in numerous publications, including The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Esquire, Interview, Artnet.com, Arena, Vibe, Spin, Marie Claire, Dansk, Harpers Bazaar, Glamour, Tokion, +81, and Dune, among others. She has exhibited in the United States and abroad, in such venues and events as the Chelsea Art Museum and Review Santa Fe.