There are only two kinds of portraits - those done to please the subject, and those done to please the photographer. You first have to decide which you are doing.(posted 8479 days ago)I really don't do portraits - partly because of this problem. However, I'd contrast this shot with this one that I posted before (http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=00477t).
It isn't a portrait of Vic as he actually looks face-to-face so much as how he sees himself. That's why he liked it.
I can visualize several other ways to shoot your subject. But what were you attempting to portray?