Senior Portrait: playing in photoshop

[Cait]

Normally I'm not really crazy about adding graphics to images. I don't know why it bothers me, but I like to make sure that nothing is taken away from the subject.
This senior, wanted his name on some of the billfolds he ordered. I tried for a subtle, yet nifty (?) approach, and sent a sample to him to see what he thinks.
While I'm waiting for his opinion, I wondered if anyone would like to share theirs. Is the name placement distracting in this image, and would anyone have done anything differently?

I have no idea why the image looks so cold here, the first time I attached it I noticed this and warmed it up, but after resizing, it looks like I did nothing to it, so I'm guessing the resizing is to blame?

[bhphotographycdn]

not too keen on his expression, looks very odd

[Cait]

You're right. To be honest, this guy was the most difficult person I've ever dealt with. Very dry, and I couldn't get many natural, relaxed expressions from him. Perhaps that was my fault, though I tried....
But my question wasn't about his face....

[loeee]

With regard to the graphics, I'd work the perspective a bit more (narrower at the "w" end) to make it look more like it is actually on the wall.

With regard to the face, a higher light ratio might have been better, to give the face more dimension.

[deluco]

You might want to consider doing some slimming. He may be self-conscious about his weight. I have the same problem with weight. I generally try to minimize or remove the extra chin and use distort-liquify to slim a bit. Not too much...

[Cait]

Thanks! Loeee, you are right, and I'll try what you suggested.
Jim, that edit looks great! But would he notice? I would be afraid he would be offended if he noticed that I took some off of his facial area. Most of the pictures I took of him, I did with myself posistioned from above, though he liked this one. I just don't want to offend him or his family, that makes me nervous!

[deluco]

I don't think he will notice that you slimmed him. He may notice that after the retouching he looks better.