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.

Love + vegetables
"nature"
On our way to town or work, we drive through this patch of wood just after the village we live in. Ever since I was little, I've found it attractive, mysterious, beautiful, dark. I remember one time in high school, a theatre group invited schools out here for an outdoor play, in the forest. I lived in town then, and wanted to be hip and cool and urban, and thought this place was soooo far away. Now it's a part of the surroundings I call home.
One thing though, that I'd never noticed before we moved out here, is that little patch of cleared forest on the hill just ahead as you drive through the wood. In winter, when its covered in snow, it looks like a cloud there on the hill. A perfect little cloud.
Can you see it?
Untitled

Changes.

The last holi-day.