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.

Arty-farty.

Love + vegetables
"Freja", "Ronja", "art", "family life"
Three times creative Paynes today:
Ronja rushed home from school (her last day in 1st grade!) and took straight to painting - outside of course, like real impressionists do. First thoroughly examining the landscape, then giving her version of it on the canvas. Blue sky, the sun, grass and flowers. Beautiful!
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No. 2: Mrs. Payne, making her first quilt. So much fun! So happy! Seams not straight, but who cares. Where's the charm in perfection, anyway?
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Last, and least in size but not in significance: The Littlest Monkey, constantly creative, both in how she tidies up our house and in her different hairdo's.
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Mr. Payne is the more realist kind, at least today. I guess someone's gotta be that, too.

Indie!

What to wear?