Reinventing The Tattoo Forum

It's not bad. The contrast situation with the photo is indeed an issue, and it would take a bit of skill with enhancing portraits in Photoshop to the extent that they'll tattoo nicely. There is enough subtle shading here that with a little exaggeration it's still tattooable. You could have gone darker with all the subtle tones toward the center of the face, enhancing the effect of the soft light hitting it from all around. The unshaved whisker area could be darker too, as could the eyes, especially the sunken bag effect. The corners of the mouth need that little fold on each side, that's the only major likeness issue that I see here. 

The 4x4" frame is part of your limitation... at that size the challenge is that much greater. Eliminating the frame and zooming in on the face more could be a better use of that kind of small space... I am always skeptical of square or rectangular frames on the body, there is no real flow. The standard approach of using a little flowing shading around the face works well because it not only allows you to fit the alotted space better but it gives the portrait, which is at risk of looking like a floating head, a bit more flow and fit on the body.

Awesome! Thanks Guy, I really appreciate it!