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.

First lambs!

The lambing started last night! Dandelion was first, and she birthed two beautiful lambs during the night - a blonde female and a black male. It was odd, because when I woke up this morning, I had a feeling that something had happened. Then, during the day, Veslemøy had two as well, but so far she is struggling a bit with grasping what has happened, it being her first time and all. Hopefully she'll land and let her lambs drink from her; thus far we have to hold her still so they can latch on. We are positive that it will be okay. And, yep, as I wrote this, Mr. Payne came in and said that Cottonsocks has had a lamb, too. That marks the beginning of the first lambs born here by mothers born here (if you get what I'm trying to say) - second generation Zoo Payne sheep, that is! Yay! 

It will be exciting to see what the night brings. 

xxx

24 weeks.

Yesterday.