“A portrait is one of the hardest pictures for me to take and to take well. The impulse that arises when wanting to take someone’s portrait is similar to that of high school puppy love. I’ve often compared asking to take one’s portrait to asking someone out on a first date. There’s always a sense of uncertainty that haunts your own insecurities with rejection and humility. You are fascinated by someone’s physical appearance and the immediate emotions that surge before even connecting deeply. With a more refined sensibility as an artist, you become hyper aware of the emotional evocation someone can offer."

Nelson Chan, in this series of statements about portraiture on the Conscientious blog.