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:

The first day of a new year.

To start a new year is refreshing, it's like a whole bunch of unscribbled paper, full of promise and possibilities. We started 2015 with a lovely day at home, just us. The kids knocked the gingerbread house down violently with a hammer, before we threw Christmas out (at least most of it) and enjoyed the freshness of a non-Christmassy living room again (I always appreciate coming back to normal). We headed out to shoot some arrows (Christmas presents), and went for a lovely walk in the woods and by the river. Back home, we threw together two scrumptious pizzas, and the first day of 2015 was complete. Love!

Teamwork.

Happy new year!