I think great photography is not just about the images created, but the entire experience. Good pictures are important, but so is the process of taking them. We've all heard horror stories about stressful family portrait sessions gone wrong, but getting your picture taken should be fun! Find a photographer you wouldn't mind hanging out with for an hour or so and get your best moments documented.
Doing a photo shoot both captures and creates a moment in time. If properly embraced, a photo shoot is an event in itself. Pictures are the bonus.