About to be published. C/C please

My wife just joined a medical practice that is placing an ad in the local paper to announce it. They didn't like the professional photographer's shots, so they called me and asked me to do it. The ad is going to run this weekend, but would you mind giving me some critique for next time? Thanks in advance, and PLEASE be brutal.

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Very nice! The reflection on the wall is a little distracting, so maybe a less reflective surface next time?

Brutal is easy!
Brutal while constructive and with compassion will cost extra.

I'm happy with the background - unobtrusive is good. The color doesn't seem to clash and the only head that is even anywhere close to a tonal merger is the first gentleman in the back.

The poses are good, but I think it is not appropriate for anyone in a group of professionals to have a hand on a colleague's shoulder in a formal staff picture.

The exposure and color balance seem to be perfect. The lighting is reasonably good, but it can be improved upon. Based on the shadows on the faces the lighting seems to be predominantly from above, and I'm thinking that it is a little too high. Each person's jacket shoulders are slightly overexposed. I'm concluding that there are probably two main lights at about the same height - one to the right and one to the left of center.

This is a very difficult lighting setup to get right, and I don't think I can make a recommendation that cures all of the problems, but I do think that the lighting should be more from one side only - even if it takes two lights, and I also think the lights should be a little lower. Some fill light would be good just to control any shadows that get too deep. The camera should be placed at a higher level in order to not look up into the faces. It is better for the faces to be looking slightly up into the camera.

I learn more from Roberts critiques than I do from all the books I've bought on photography. - Thanks Robert!

From an ideal perspective the lighting on this image looks good but not even. The left side is quite a bit darker than the right which is unfortunate because of the blonde hair on that side. I never would have thought of the casual hand on the shoulder but have to agree now, it looks strange. Even if they are husband and wife it doesn't fit for me.

All that said, I think it's a pretty good photo. And evidently a whole lot better than the 'professional' shot that was taken. Nice job. And congratulations.

I agree with Robert, esp. with the fill - the guy in the middle on the bottom there are some shadows which could be reduced with a little fill flash using a diffuser on it.

Without reading Robert's post which always spoils everything, the only thing that bothers me i the wash out of the lower right side lady's hair and foehead. Another annoying part is the fact that these are Professional and the picture I'm assuming s to promote the practice the lab coats look shoddy and some are even slouching. I would also like to see more distance from the background if possible to just soften to up a little. I would also be nice is the party would communicate with each other and choose more complimentary colors and patterns. A little starch on the lab coat is nice too.

Thanks to you all. The shot was taken in a small waiting room in the clinic in the middle of day with a window frame right. There were flourescent lights overhead and I tried to bounce a flash left for balance but it picked up a bad red cast from the paint.
I see what you mean about the hand on the shoulder. My wife just told me that when the photographer from the paper was there he had them all place a hand on the shoulder in front of them.
Next time I'll pay more attention to the posture as well. I couldn't do anything about the lab coats tho. Actually I had to clone the clinic logo onto the one in the middle and remove some stains- the guy just wasn't prepared at all.
The doc prefers this shot, which is better exposed. I think it doesn't look right with him on the side, myself. But he's the boss, right?
Again, thanks for your input.

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I don't like how they are leaning together, and ditto Robert's last comment, the perspective, up a stepping stool you go, after that, the background color and glare isn't working. Try it in black and white.

Thanks for your input Kraig. Next time I will pay more attention and give a little more direction to the posing.
The ad came out today and the second picture is the one that ran.

crop in a little bit tighter