A mother of four, photographer, nature lover. Someone trying to make sense of it all, through photos and stories.
I try to be free in all senses of the word, so I made the leap and now work with what I love doing; taking pictures, storing this life in moments, both for myself and for clients. My heart is in photographing birth and motherhood, but I take on just about any photography job.
(See my birth photos at www.birth.no and the rest of my work portfolio at www.mariavatne.no.)
I live on a farm in Norway with my man Nik and my children Ronja, Freja, Falk and Ulv, plus a bunch of animals. We grow our own food as far as the seasons allow it, we don't go to kindergarten, the three youngest ones will be homeschooled.
We govern our own lives, we strive for independence, we want to be in this life wild and free and full of love.
Zoo Payne is Mr. & Mrs. Payne and our four sugarplums Ronja (11), Freja (6), Falk (3) and Ulv (0).
Mr. Payne is a man of many talents, and has worked with most elements: as a pilot and flying instructor in Portugal, as a diving instructor in Tenerife, as a farmer in England, and now as a farmer and family man in Norway. When he doesn't bake one of his delicious loaves of bread or takes care of our kids and animals, he sometimes climbs trees and takes them down. He is nerdy about the great things in life: self-sufficiency, freedom and love of nature.
Mrs. Payne is the lucky woman who hitched him on holiday in Portugal and brought him back to Norway with her. She has kicked her dream into reality with the start of photography practices Bygdefotografen (portraits, weddings, etc.) and hei baby! birth photography. She writes a little bit, knits occasionally, loves music and that nutty family of hers.
Our big project is to be as self-sufficient as possible. The blog is about the road to independence, the daily life of this bunch of creatures, and a reflection on life here and there.
With Billie the Wolfhound, cats Boo and Sioux, horses Marius and Albertine, a pair of pigs, three cows, a band of sheep and a bunch of chickens, the Paynes live the dream on a farm in Norway.
Thanks for stopping by!
And yes - feel free to write us a little something on the form below!