Used a small softbox with a Speedlight in it to add extra light, making the background, a backyard, go dark. "

Hey Chris,

I like this shot a lot. Did you artificially darken the background at all? Or was it all from the exposure?

I don't see a problem of lack of detail in the fur - except perhaps just at the top of the head. I find this to be difficult though when shooting dogs with white fur...I tend to burn the head just a bit more than I like. The reason for this is because I typically shoot against a background, and my goal is to eliminate shadows. As a result, I tend to have a lot of bounce light coming toward the ground - stronger than the flashes lighting the eyes and face. This causes a slight imbalance in the exposure. Recently, I have been much better at correcting this - but it is always a chore.

James