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.

In the sky // Little fluffy clouds.

For two years I studied in Edinburgh. I studied film and photography, I lived with wonderful people and made life-changing memories. I am not a city person, so I struggled with it, but I came through, and it is great now, to have that experience, to have found my way far away from home as a twenty-year-old. I seriously think, among some other experiences, it has made me feel calm and in place right where I am now.

I had to whirl around a bit to find my place.

(from the air between norway and scotland // analog slide film // approx. 2001)

Today:

Oink!