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.

Lack of impulse control.

Love + vegetables
"Freja"
I've always been like that: As soon as I have an idea I find vaguely interesting, I have to try it out (within sensible limits, of course). So yesterday, when brushing Freja's hair, and once more despairing over how tangled and dreadlock-like it was, and over how painful it was for her to have it brushed, I just decided to cut it. I asked what she thought about the idea, she was up for it, so I did. And halfway through cutting those golden curls off, I panicked. Oh my God, it's too short, what am I doing, I've ruined her were among the thoughts going through my mind. But it ended up well. And she loved it! She ran around the house shaking that head, feeling light as a feather, singing how she would never have to brush her hair again. And I think she looks really cute. More girly in a way, and older.
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Change is good, sometimes. And of course, it grows out again.
(She reminds me a lot of Annika from the Pippi Longstocking films now, which is ironic, because her personality is more like Pippi's. Or actually, since I'm on the subject, I find Freja resembling another Astrid Lindgren-character a lot: Ronja the robber's daughter. Which again, is a little funny, given the name of her big sister.)

Late summer.

All loved up.