Pet Portraits event

[Stina3246]

I have just started shooting Pet Events. This photo is from a Christmas event I shot. I have recently booked a cancer fund raiser portrait event where 50% of everything I make will go to the American Cancer Society. It's 2 things I've always wanted to do rolled up into one.
Can you just critique in general this shot. I would have prefered that the dogs were looking at the camera but they were very nervous and the owners were NOT helpful. Actually they made things worse. Anyway. I still liked the shot. Accept the dog on the left is not perfectly sharp.
Tell me what setting I should have been on.




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flash set on TTL.
Focal length 23mm
Exposure 1/60
F4
WB auto
Metering: Matrix
I'm guessing ISO was about 200-400 but couldn't find the info for it.
My clients were estatic but I was only happy.
Please give me tips on better color and DOF. My next even is comeing up FAST!!
If you need any more info let me know.

[BuddhaPi]

might want to resize your image it's ginormous!

[Stina3246]

Originally Posted by BuddhaPi

might want to resize your image it's ginormous!

LOL....that's what I get for not previewing first!

[Laurenbiz]

I definitely notice the out-of-focus dog.

What sort of flash are you using? It looks as though it's built-in camera flash, which creates a flat look to photos and adds in that harsh black shadow behind subjects.

I'd say to avoid that flash if possible. Maybe consider outdoor shots with the dogs?

[Stina3246]

Originally Posted by Laurenbiz

I definitely notice the out-of-focus dog.

What sort of flash are you using? It looks as though it's built-in camera flash, which creates a flat look to photos and adds in that harsh black shadow behind subjects.

I'd say to avoid that flash if possible. Maybe consider outdoor shots with the dogs?

I was using a speedlight 600 but it was miss-firing. The owners of the store wanted to do the event at night so I really had no choice but to use a flash. Haven't saved up enough for an off camera flash yet.
What could I have changed my setting to to get a better DOF and still have decent lighting?