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 of nature.

When I was little, or probably when I was Ronjas age, I used to think that I was so lucky to be Norwegian, I could hardly believe it. The fact that I was born into a wealthy (in global terms) family in one of the richest and safest countries in the world, was simply beyond me. It still is. Talk about winning the lottery.

For some reason, I thought about this today, when we were out in the forest picking blueberries. The beauty and lushness of the woods, the pleasant weather, feeling free and safe and comfortable at the same time, and being able to pick these tasty little fruity things from nature, it made me feel like that again. Like I carry a privilege in this life I have, and my kids too, and that we must cherish it and take care of it and preserve it. And I think one of the most important gifts I could ever give them, is love of nature and to appreciate it in its many forms. Like freshly picked blueberries on your evening porridge, for example. It doesn't get much better than that.

Beginnings, again.

Today: