A Rainy Sunday with the Orie Family

If you’ve been around here for a while, you already know how much I adore the Orie family. Spending time with the Orie family always reminds me why I love doing this work.

I first met Dane and Clare over ten years ago, back when they were interns for Saint Meinrad’s “One Bread, One Cup” program. They didn’t intern in the same year, but God had His own timing—and an intern reunion helped the rest fall into place. When they became engaged, I was over the moon when they asked me to photograph their wedding. To this day, their wedding remains one of my all-time favorites—full of sweet moments, heartfelt joy, and a reception where absolutely everyone danced. (You can even check out some of those epic dance moves here!)

A few years later, their family had grown by two, and when I received a grant from the Indiana Arts Commission to create family films, Dane and Clare were among the first to reach out. Their story became part of that project, and you can still watch their film here.

Fast forward to last year—I got to meet the newest little Orie, sweet Annie, during a family portrait session at Broad Run Park in Louisville, KY. What a joy it was to spend an afternoon with them, camera in hand, capturing all the laughter, love, and chaos that comes with a family of little ones.

And now, this May, I had the honor of creating another family film for them. This time, it was on one of those cozy, rainy Sundays where staying in feels just right. Their home was filled with games, block towers, painting masterpieces, a tea party fit for royalty, and stacks of books ready to be read aloud. It was one of those slow, sweet mornings where love seemed to hum through every corner of their home.

Their family may have grown since the last time I filmed them, but one thing hasn’t changed: their house is still overflowing with love, encouragement, and joy. It was such a gift to be welcomed back into their lives, and I’m so excited to share this little glimpse of their world with you.