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.

Crazy times.

Crazy times.

Maria Vatne

It was after dinner, and after tidying the table, I crashed down on the sofa and felt so sleepy. I remember thinking how wonderful it would have been to be able to have a nap just then, in a quiet house. But my house wasn't quiet. The kids were playing and laughing and quarrelling and doing their normal thing, regardless of my tiredness. And I caught myself thinking how lovely it will be when they are a bit bigger, when I can nap if I want. But then I thought about the years after that, when they will have moved out, and I am free to do whatever I want, nap when I want, sleep all night and all morning if I want, drink my coffee in peace as many times as I want during the day, go when I want and come home when I want, noone will be waiting. No small feet rushing out in the yard to greet me when I park the car after having been away, no babies climbing on me when I try to read something, no full cups of tea waiting around undrunk because someone needed me for something, noone disturbing me at all. And I thought about how much I will miss these times, the days that I am in right now, with all its mess and chaos and clutter and noise, when my house is quiet. So that nap can wait, and instead I pinch myself again and open my heart to feel how completely privileged I am to be surrounded by these light beings that are my children. These are crazy times, the best of times.

Last photos as a three-year old.

Last photos as a three-year old.
Winter light part two, or how to make the best of it.

Winter light part two, or how to make the best of it.