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.

Mrs. Payne loves...

Love + vegetables
...being back at work after a looooooooooong break, but oh how everyday life has caught up with us. In good way, but it's busy! (Hence the lack of images in this post.)

By the way, I love this film, and this one, and these days I'm having a reunion with this wonderful, beautiful woman (bought this book, can't wait to dig into it). Oh, and this song is pretty elegant.
(Click on the words for links.)

Chosen again.

Today: