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.

For me, the thought of Portugal instantly connotes the thought of horses. That's where it all started. I lived down there for a year, and worked at a riding school there. It was basically living and breathing horses (for good and for bad, haha), and it made a big imprint on me. It was also the reason I went back, many years after. And there, amongst the horses, was Mr. Payne. He was such a handsome stallion I decided to bring him home and use him for breeding. And the love story had begun!
Wonderful then, that my daughter(s) show a love for and interest in horses. And even better, Ronja can have her own memories about horses and Portugal, when she rides either at my mother-in-law's, or at the riding school where I worked. And best of all, she is starting fresh after the horrific accident, regaining trust and just enjoying the view up there.
Below: Ronja on Patti, the first horse I ever rode in Portugal. Freja watching Ronja having a riding lesson. Blixen and the afternoon light.
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In transit.

Sand, sun, sea.