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.

New additions!

Love + vegetables
"farm life", "sheep"
Every time we add new members to our band, on the drive home we always look at each other and say "Jesus Christ, what have we done!?" - and laugh. Today was no exception, when we were on the road with five little ewes in the trailer.
We are now sheep-farmers! It's really quite unbelievable and so amazing! We have five ewes (female sheep) from the old norwegian breed Spælsau.
This marks the start of a new era for us, and it's a special kind of feeling. A big day at Zoo Payne!

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Our girls.

Self portraits/ Change.