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Allan,
I think your photoshop work is too dark and would result in muddy skin-tones.
Louise, you have missed the light on the left that helps model the form, the light along her jaw and the highlight on her nose.
The color is a bit pasty for that time of day. Photographic reference is not reliable in matters of color.
Doing life work from time to time is not enough to give you the mastery you need for this career. I would suggest you take several workshops mentioned on the Art Renewal site. There also is a topic here by Bill Whitaker called "Profound drawing exercises" based on the Bargue methods. Get the book by Harold Speed called the "Practice and Science of Drawing" and his companion book on painting. Laura Carter Clark has a decent book on the basics called "How to Paint Living Portraits".
Learning from photos is not the best way to prepare for a very difficult and competitive career. How good and successful you will be is very much dependent on how much work you put into mastering your craft.
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