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 very proud moment.

Love + vegetables

I am neither the fastest or most experienced craftswoman in the world. Probably something more of the opposite. My mum (who is something resembling the World Champion of Knitting), taught me how to knit when I was pregnant with Freja, and I learned how to crochet when I was pregnant with Ronja.

(What will happen if I impregnate again, you may ask. Aquarel painting? Embroidery? Wood carving?)

But! Yesterday, I managed to finish TWO knitting projects in one day! Not so impressive maybe, when fact is I started them both last winter. (Ah, details details.) The problem with being a slow knitter and making stuff for my kids, is that by the time I finish the garment, the child has grown, so the whole project seems slightly in vain. This time I was lucky though, they both fitted. And here they are!

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"Enough modeling, now give me that camera!"

Dogs waiting for pie.

Six months!