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.

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Judging from the photos, you might think we had a grey, melancholic day. But we didn't. We were so lucky, we had the best summer day! Thoughts of sadness managed to stay away, Ronja had her two best friends over from morning till dawn, and the whole circus spent the day outside in the wonderful, wonderful sun. We even washed the car! Haven't done that for a few...years. Ehm.
The day was appropriately rounded off with a barbeque in the garden, before Ronja went back with her friends to spend the night there (the two are sisters). When I dropped them off, I came in to have a chat with their mum, and suddenly - literally out of the blue - a giant shower washed down from the sky. In an instant, the garden was the site of a beautiful rain dance. The girls plus their little brother had thrown their clothes off and in their knickers, they celebrated the summer rain as only children can.
Happy beautiful summer, we love you! Please stay!

Where he used to roam.

She's home.