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.

November magic.

November magic.

Maria Vatne

November is upon us, the leaves have let go of their branches and the trees are bare. We have had a few days of snow but it disappeared again, so we’re in that bleak and dark transit between autumn and winter. Being out in the forest is still wonderful (especially for someone who has been stuck in a hospital for weeks), so we go there as often as possible. The beautiful simplicity of it; finding a spot, lighting a fire, drinking hot chocolate. Collecting small treasures, looking for signs of animals, listening to the wind. Savouring the forest just as it is now, before it is covered by the white blanket of winter.

Everyday life.

Everyday life.
A new kind of wilderness.

A new kind of wilderness.