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.

Nine!

Nine!

Maria Vatne

The day you’ve been waiting for, crossing out the calendar for, is here. You are nine!
Another year with you, and this one has been very different from the other ones. It was around this time last year when I started feeling that something was different and wrong in my body. And gradually, slowly, we moved closer to knowing why, and having our lives changed forever. You have been amazing through this, my Freja. I have shown you my vulnerability and you have welcomed it with so much love and understanding, and so much patience. You have also been brave and shown your own fear and vulnerability, and like that we have been there for each other, sending that love back and forth and growing stronger by the day. You are still a child but yet old enough to know and understand the situation. Luckily, you have kept your innocence and joy of life through it all, and that makes me so happy. You fill my days with life and love and joy, and your colourful nature, your creativity, your love of music and literature is so inspiring. I am so, so proud to have been chosen as your mother.

I love you endless amounts of times around the universe!

Happy birthday, my child.

New life.

New life.
Six years of loving you.

Six years of loving you.