People shots are a lot more appealing if the viewer can see the peoples faces.
People shots are a lot more interesting if the camera framing matches their shape (vertical/portrait camera orientation). In this shot the path also is vertical.
Subjects centered in the frame are less dynamic than if they aren't centered. See the compositional guideline called the rule-of-thirds (ROT). Notice how the ROT is also used for framing subjects on TV and in films. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition.
You don't allow edits so no one can show you how your photos might look if you had used different techniques, you'll have to do your own research.