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Kiu,
Yes, I do like using my long lenses for tight portraits, because they tend to flatten the features and make the faces look better. Additionally, they're all quite fast, (with the exception of the f4 micro) which is useful for isolating the subject, or concentrating on the eyes.
Over the years I've used my 85 f2, 105 2.5, 105 f4 micro, 35~105 2.8 SP Tamron, 180 2.8, 80~200 2.8 Tokina and ED Nikkor and even my 300 2.8 for portraits, but find that the 180 and the 80~200 work best for me.
Of course for enviromental portraits, that show the subject in their surroundings, I like the 35 f2, but love my 24 2.8 or my 18~28 f4.0-4.5. I've also got a Sigma 12~24 f4.5-5.6 autofocus (sigh. Yes it's true.) zoom that's good for working in tight on scenes and enviromental portraits, but it suffers from distortion at the sides when I'm in very tight, that sometimes looks strange.
Anyway, back to your question. I'd guess I was in tight at the 200mm end when I shot this. I'm neither shy, nor uncomfortable putting my lens in someone's face, and if it does't bother them, we're good to go.
And I cropped very little on this shot. What you see here is essentially what I got on the slide.