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.

Epilogue.

Maria Vatne

Came home from her funeral this afternoon, walked in the garden and found that one peony had blossomed. I have waited for it to blossom for a long time, I love peonies. It's the first one of the summer, and somehow it seems so perfect that I found it and picked it today. She loved plants, flowers, gardening, everything from nature.

It's been a week filled with tears, a lot of thinking, fond memories and a heavy heart - and all the while the sun has been shining so strongly down on us, giving us those perfect summer days. We are right in the mix of life, whether we like it or not.

I am going out to watch that sunset again, now.

Peace and love. 

Two days by the sea.

Saturday, June 27th 2015.