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Let me say that you have a difficult choice to make. I have regreted portraits that I was unhappy with, especially looking at them a year later, and seeing the gross mistake they were complaining about jump out and bite me.
I think you took chances on this subject; first, by changing the light and shadow. There is much more dark shadow in the photo, which may have been easier to nail the likeness by sticking to. Second, by using a different color base than in the photo. There is more alizarin in the photo, giving him color in the face. Third, by changing the position of the head to vertical, rather than the slight tilt to his left, which is a more relaxed, less "stern" pose. Also, the eyelashes in the photo soften the line above his eye, giving less glare than you depict in the painting with a hard line used for the eyelashes. These things would stand out vividly to a close relative, although they could not probably tell you just why.
I think you might want to redo this one. Chalk it up to experience. You will not regret it.
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