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.

Today:

Lazy days at Zoo Payne... At least for some of us! Mr. Payne is as usual busy with all the different projects we have on the house and farm, and today the entrance part of our house was started, yay! We're going to have a roof over some of it, and a deck, where we can sit and enjoy the view regardless of the rain. It's going to look smashing! If all goes well a lot will be done on it this week. Pics will be posted!

Apart from that, life is pretty much in slow motion here. Which is the whole point of summer, yeah?

Tonight: Bobbie Gentry, Annie Leibovitz, and perhaps a film later on. Good evening!

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Busy little madam.

Checkin' out the grapes.