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.

A different sort of birth photography, part two.

Maria Vatne

(You can read part one here.)

A new calf today! Our second one, with Rosalita becoming a mother for the first time. She was a week overdue today. I noticed she was pushing in the morning when she was out in the field, and after a few hours of that without much progress, Mr. Payne went out and checked her. It turned out the calf was both breech and upside down, so the outdoors birth was cancelled and we brought them all in. There, with Ronja as birth photographer and Mr. Payne and myself as home birth midwives, a beautiful heifer (female) calf was born. It was an experience I will always remember I think - the whole family being there together, sharing something so profound and joyful, the birth of a new herd member. 

We have named her Buttercup, and I have a feeling she will get her share of the love around here.

Goodbye, September.

Freja and the fox.