Apparatus and associated methods relate to a photoelectric sensor system having a transmitter and a receiver, and at least one aperture module configured to modify a nominal field of view (FOV) of the transmitter and/or receiver, such that an overlap between the transmitter and receiver FOVs is controlled. In an illustrative example, the aperture module may be a plate having respective receiver and transmitter apertures. The transmitter and/or receiver apertures may be aligned or slightly offset from respective transmitter and receiver optical axes. The transmitter and/or receiver apertures may have a specific size/shape/position that produces a custom predetermined FOV overlap. At least one registration/alignment pin may extend through the aperture plate, a baffle, and a lens module to control orientation. The photoelectric sensor system may advantageously (1) be more resistant to the “white card effect,” (2) increase maximum sensor range, and (3) control the shape/size/overlap of the FOVs.