Great photography is rarely random. True there are some really great photographs that were truly random and a once in a century great that was random. But most people will spend a lifetime trying to get that 1 truely 1 great shot. But will never see it. So,

Why not try to learn to make your on truly shot.  

And

If your truly lucky enough To experience it : then you will  ability to make it even bettering

I consider myself a bit of both professional and hobbyist,  When not on the job I take my camera to see if I can capture items, scenes or ideas (concepts).  When I' hired to do a job I will often use what I have captured either in the camera or learning something new in the processing to make my product better.  

Circa 1969, I was so fortunate to have a brief chat with Edward Steichen after a lecture about the MOMA "Family of Man" project.  He said, "There is the picture you plan to make.  And then the picture you actually make."  The idea is take a photographer must be open to, and prepared to capture, the gifts chance throws our way.  My genre is fashion and beauty, the nature of which requires planning to coordinate a team of models, hair, make-up, designers, and stylists.  So I like to get that "safe" shot first, then encourage the team to pull out the stops and play, while I experiment with lighting and camera technique.  99% of the time, art directors run the more unique, experimental work.  

Plan to plan and plan for the plan to fall apart.  I find it's great to always go in overly prepared in terms of knowing what you want to do.  Having a concept of vision for any shoot is a guiding light.  Keeping in mind practicality, plans don't always go the way we think they do, so it's necessary to have a contingency.  I like having a flow printed out with inspiration; I find those sessions always go best.

Sometimes I have done research on a location, planned when I would arrive, what I was going there to shoot; often while following the plan I come across something I have to capture. Other times I just head out snd go down a road I have not travelled.  Many times I uncover what could not be researched.  

I usually have a plan in place, but sometimes you have to be spontaneous or you will mis something extraordinary. Plans always need to be flexible.

I say go in with a goal and style, not a plan.  As we all know things change, light shifts, etc.  You have to be flexible to get the best results.  But you still need to be aiming at a target...

I have been a commercial photographer for over 30 years, and it really seems that when I'm working for an agency and there is an art director involved, there is NO random.  You shoot to the brief, to the planned layout.  Now I am doing mostly music industry work.  Live shows are all 'random' because you really can't plan the shot.  You follow the light and capture the emotion of the artists performing.  As for band photos and promotional shoots, I plan the crap out of it, location, light, poses, all planned before the shoot.  But it's a band!  You have to be flexible and ready for the spontaneous shot.  I don't know if I would call it "random", but there are shots in every shoot that are not really planned.  

This is right on the button- plan out your concept or the concept assigned to you to execute by the client and then be prepared for any opportunity that presents itself - and something always does! In over30 years of shooting it has never failed to happen.

For me, just about every photographic or creative decision is done with a sense of intent.  Even if I'm shooting an event there is always a plan B,C or D that is pre-planned to allow adjustments on the fly that maintain continuity with the other images.  Over the years this process becomes pretty intuitive.