Customer Photo Ref

[Patricia Joyce]

A customer wants a portrait done with this photo in graphite. Her children are four years older now. This is her favorite pic of her kids and she admits it is cropped poorly, but she loves the light on their faces.

I am worried that the light and shadow are too severe on the boy. Could I make it less contrasty and still make it work? I thought I would finish the heads like Ruben's Head of a Boy, just neck and suggestion of shoulders???

Any input, ANY...would be appreciated. I told her I would have to play with some sketching before I could assure her this ref is useable.

Thank you
Pat