These are beautiful Julie. I think the backgrounds look great, I wouldn't have known you had a challenge with them. Love the two whippets in the flowers!

Saints are so hard to get the eyes, they are recessed and the same color as what is around them so hard to get a highlight. I see a round highlight in the whippets eyes that aren't in the saints, did you use a fill flash? Do you ever use a reflector? I just ordered my first one (soft gold/white) and am anxious to get it and try it out. You got some great expressions with these.