I encourage my clients to make an effort to not “dress up” or prepare in any way at all for their session, and to try to dress and act as close as possible to any other day. The presence of the camera does have some influence on people’s actions at first, especially with young children, but throughout the day everyone usually settles in to their normal routines and habits. That’s when the best, most real moments happen. As much as possible, I try to be an observer only, though I do speak to subjects as necessary to answer questions or help them feel comfortable with me, but I’ll never ask someone to “do that again” or “turn towards the light” or “look at me and smile”. My job, as the documentary photographer, is to find the best angles and lighting available to reflect the reality of your life, to tell your story as it actually happens. Your job is only to be yourself.