I prefer the second. He seems more relaxed and I like the way you composed it a little off center.
Your nephew is very charismatic and a great portrait subject.
Fred
Not a fan of the background in these, it's too close to his skin tones and he seems to be getting lost in it. He looks relaxed and makes a good subject.
Donny is cool. Reminds me of a friend. #1 is the best composition IMO, though I would have chosen a different color gel - one that was a compliment color to his hair or clothing. Thanks for sharing!
I think he make a great model because of his distinct hair,complexion, and great smile. The background (orange gel), in my opinion, takes away from that significantly. The lighting of the face is just right.
The background is a little close to skin tones, but I like it for some reason. It is different. Just goes to show you we all see things a bit differently...nice photos.
The only nit I have is the wrinkled back ground.
I like how you are showing his personality nicely...a great reflection on the photographer :-)
When you change the background color or adjust the skin tones, I suggest you reduce the size of the image, and post the image as a composite with the variations side-by-side so one can see the variations together.