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.

Into the woods.

It's busy having four kids, and one thing that tears me apart a little these days is the lack of one-on-one time with them. Some days I feel like I never get to properly be present for them, because there's always someone else talking and I have to split my brain into four parts. (Yes, I am exhausted.) 

Today though. Ronja and Billie and I (and the wolf cub of course, he's always with me, snug as a bug in his wrap) went for a long walk in the woods above the farm. There was a slight breeze, the last leaves were dropping from their branches like little parachutes, the sun was bright in the sky, and the temperature was just right. And we talked about small things and big things, and it was just plain lovely to be out there with her. My wise, beautiful almost-eleven-year-old.

Last portraits...

Today: