Seeing India Summer (Tryst Agency) reaffirmed why I exclusively book night sessions—and why I believe other clients should consider doing the same. It’s been my approach from day one, and maybe it’s the New Yorker in me, but I see time as too precious to be wasted. This was the first time I’ve ever been late to a session, and it sent my anxiety through the roof. I’ll live and die by my night sessions, even if I know many of you don’t share the same preference.
To give a brief explanation: I was supposed to meet India at 2:30 PM at her hotel. That didn’t happen—I didn’t actually meet her until 2:47 PM, maybe even a few minutes later. This wasn’t India’s fault at all. She has a packed schedule when she’s in town, and the afternoon slot was the only one she could fit me into. The problem was entirely on me. I didn’t factor in two things that I rarely think about during my usual night sessions: traffic and rush hour.
In New York, traffic downtown from uptown tends to ease up after 9:00 PM. While it’s not completely clear, if an Uber gives you an ETA, it’s usually accurate for night travel. That’s not the case at 2:30 PM, when traffic is at its peak. I left around 1:50 PM, giving myself a 10-minute buffer, but it was clear that even if I’d left an hour earlier, I still would’ve been late. Traffic combined with rush hour is a deadly mix.
Rush hour in New York—or any major city, really—is chaos. You’re surrounded by people all trying to get where they’re going as quickly as possible. Everyone’s fighting for their piece of the road, whether they’re heading downtown, uptown, or somewhere in between. I didn’t take this into account because during my usual night sessions, most people are already home. The roads aren’t empty, but they’re manageable. You can get to where you’re going at a steady pace—not necessarily fast, but reliable.
Night sessions are my sweet spot. While many clients prefer mornings, afternoons, or mid-afternoons, night sessions just work better for me. (And if you’re booking morning sessions, I have to ask—were you raised in a barn?) Night sessions offer distinct advantages: it’s easier to slip in and out of hotels, the mood is often more relaxed, and there’s something special about being the provider’s last client of the day. It makes the session feel more intimate and memorable.
If I can help it, I won’t be booking another afternoon session. They’re just not for me. There’s too much room for error, and even if I managed to avoid being late next time, it would still be an afternoon session. Yuck!
To give a brief explanation: I was supposed to meet India at 2:30 PM at her hotel. That didn’t happen—I didn’t actually meet her until 2:47 PM, maybe even a few minutes later. This wasn’t India’s fault at all. She has a packed schedule when she’s in town, and the afternoon slot was the only one she could fit me into. The problem was entirely on me. I didn’t factor in two things that I rarely think about during my usual night sessions: traffic and rush hour.
In New York, traffic downtown from uptown tends to ease up after 9:00 PM. While it’s not completely clear, if an Uber gives you an ETA, it’s usually accurate for night travel. That’s not the case at 2:30 PM, when traffic is at its peak. I left around 1:50 PM, giving myself a 10-minute buffer, but it was clear that even if I’d left an hour earlier, I still would’ve been late. Traffic combined with rush hour is a deadly mix.Rush hour in New York—or any major city, really—is chaos. You’re surrounded by people all trying to get where they’re going as quickly as possible. Everyone’s fighting for their piece of the road, whether they’re heading downtown, uptown, or somewhere in between. I didn’t take this into account because during my usual night sessions, most people are already home. The roads aren’t empty, but they’re manageable. You can get to where you’re going at a steady pace—not necessarily fast, but reliable.
Night sessions are my sweet spot. While many clients prefer mornings, afternoons, or mid-afternoons, night sessions just work better for me. (And if you’re booking morning sessions, I have to ask—were you raised in a barn?) Night sessions offer distinct advantages: it’s easier to slip in and out of hotels, the mood is often more relaxed, and there’s something special about being the provider’s last client of the day. It makes the session feel more intimate and memorable.
If I can help it, I won’t be booking another afternoon session. They’re just not for me. There’s too much room for error, and even if I managed to avoid being late next time, it would still be an afternoon session. Yuck!
