I'm not an expert on sand, but this isn't it. :)

This is Savage's "sand" paper. I saw several samples of this color before buying it and it was a light buttery color that was much closer to sand. I went looking in the samples to see where I went wrong in lighting it and I read that they recently changed the color. It's now a pretty vibrant yellow.

This is my new lighting setup with everything moved back. I'm not as happy with the quality of light as I was with the last setup. It was harsher and required way more processing, but it's definitely easier to get her in the shot no matter where she moves. I HATE the small catchlights and I'm dreaming of a giant softbox.

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i love the colour of the background

and i think the lighting id great!

Your photos anre nice and sharp!!

I also love the color of the background....beautifu​l images.
you sure do have a cute little model....wish my boys didnt just start screaming and running when they see mama with a camera...

Great job as always!! You got her finally!

I like the color in the last and see what you mean by a 'harder' yellow. have you tried using a gel to change the color?

I only have 2 lights right now, so I haven't thought about gels yet. Someday I'll get a background light, but it's not on my immediate short list. So many things on my list.

I think they look great! What two lights do you have? Your stuff looks awesome!

I just use a 430EX and a Vivitar 285HV. The 430 is in my teeny tiny softbox and the Vivitar into a large umbrella. When I want more light, I'll probably just pick up another Vivitar... it doesn't recycle as quickly as the 430, but I'm working on not speedshooting anyway.

Awesome shots. I'm going to pickup another flash (maybe a 430ex to pair with my 580ex) and the st-e2 trigger to start doing some portraits.

*bookmarks this page*

Andrea how did you learn about lighting? Your portraits always look so professional.

Well, I read strobist, but I got lost in it. I couldn't figure out the order they were going in. Basically I just read what I needed, bought it, and started testing it out. I started off with one light, one stand, an umbrella and triggers. Then I wanted more, so I got the backdrop stand and another light. I just keep moving them around, trying to figure out what my options are. It's very much still trial and error.

fantastic shots I'm really into coloured simple backdrops, very nice and from the shots I thought you would have been using strobes.

They look great Andrea. Not sand but still lovely.