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.

My girl, part II.

Just like I started reflecting upon Ronja finishing second grade last week, I find myself caught in the same situation with our littlest one this week. It's her last week in the "baby"-department in kindergarten, so from August on she will be with the bigger kids (from 3 years and up). Wow. She's not three this year, but we figured she was ready to transfer, most of all because her Daddy works there. As she gets older she's more aware of where we are when we're not with her, and she fully understands that Daddy is just across the yard from her, all day every day. How frustrating - for them both! And how wonderful to get to spend all day together.
Thus we decided to put an end to the "misery" and let her come over to him from autumn on. And this little missy isn't one who will let the bigger kids walk all over her, oh no. She has a power and will and stamina that impresses me all the time, she is so unafraid, so adventurous, so trusting and so LOUD, so I actually think keeping her with the little ones any more would put them at risk, haha!
It is strange how this little person so vividly becomes more independent all the time. She strides into the world with force and wonder, sometimes running away from us, sometimes clinging to us like a baby, always sprinkling lucky charms around her.
Our beautiful little mystery.
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Right now:

The magic of soil.