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.

I miss you.

You wonderful little person. 

Such a sweet big brother to Ulv, so loving and interested, you love having him on your lap, kissing his hair, stroking him. You're always so attentive with him, asking Where's the baby? if I'm not holding him, worrying about him if he cries, fetching me things I may need if I'm stuck feeding him. And you say When Wolfie is big and can wear wellies and a jacket, I will play with him in the sandbox and we will climb trees in the forest. And that breaks my heart a little, because although he is here, those days are still a long way to go for a little man like you, you will have to wait a good while before you can play with your brother for real. I guess patience is the key word for all of us these days, weeks, months. Waiting for the little one to grow.

So while I want to speed time up for him, so he can get big and strong and can breathe without the tube, I want to slow it down for you a little bit. You are so big all of a sudden, and I miss you sometimes, I miss the days when you were the baby, when life was less complicated, when I didn't worry like I do now. When I could hold you close more. Lovely, messy, sweet little Falk.

A funeral march for miracles.

Eleven!