This is all great help, your fix looks really good James, thanks for taking the time to do that. Was this done using your method in the tutorial? I really studied my flash manual to fully understand all you are talking about, and I understand it a lot better but not sure what will happen when I put it to use in real life. I don't think I'm at all ready to do portraits with flash for a "real job" but I will practice on everyone who will hold still for me. I need to learn how to FEL!

Thanks for your input too Jim, I should have thought to center weighted metering rather than evaluative. You know, I was thinking at the time, I really should take a few in the full sun just to see. In my head I was thinking that would blow out the highlights in the mostly white dog, but after the shoot I took some of this same dog and my dog (black and tan) playing in the sun and looking at those now, there is really good hair definition, etc in full sun. Only problem we have in full sun is squinty eyed dogs and panting...but that is what squeekies are for right!

Holy cow Tony, those shots are GREAT. Especially love the cowboy on the paint. I wish I could have gotten together with her today, it's beautifully overcast and not supposed to do that again for a while. Maybe tomorrow evening she will be free again. That bottom shot is excellent, even with it looking like the mountains are a backdrop! Shows what the flash can really do though. Great.

Thanks Julie, I am thinking of getting a diffuser. I will learn the flash a lot better first and do a lot of practicing!

Saving everyones info here for my "flash learning" file...thanks for all the help!