What are Natasha Nicholes's top tips for capturing children's portraits?

When I talk about photographing kids, I’m really talking about catching them in the middle of life, not stopping life for the photo. My best portraits of my children come when they’re being “various states of them” – blowing bubbles, side‑eyeing a sibling, or just running wild outside.

A few guiding tips I live by:

1. Let them play and shoot through the moment instead of posing everything
2. Say yes to their silly faces and antics first, then sneak in a few “smile at me” shots
3. Get on their level – literally down on the ground – so the world is framed from their height
4. Keep sessions short, in good light, and stop while they’re still having fun

What part of kids’ portraits do you struggle with most: getting real expressions, technical camera stuff, or just cooperation?