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I agree with Chris. You obviously have the ability to capture a likeness, but working without light-shadow contrast (i.e., wth a flash reference photo) is not going to help you much. In other words, you can't model light and shadow that is not there.
With respect to grins and teeth, I think the idea of a portrait is to capture something timeless, the essential characteristics and the soul of a person, rather than an instantaneous moment. The combination of "flash" lighting and toothy grin makes it look more like a copy of a photo than a portrait. It's an important philosophical point to consider, because it relates to how you use your references, and also your control over your references. If someone gives you a snapshot of a child and says "can you paint a portrait from this?" I would certainly be able to copy the photo, but if the person is alive, I would say, "If you want me to paint a portrait I have to take my own reference photos," and I would take them the way Chris described. Even better, I would try to do a life study and work from a combination of the two.
I have to say I prefer your color choices to the use of brown in the shadow areas, as this might lead to muddiness. I also prefer the coat lapels the way you have them.
Alex
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