Lighting a scenic muslin?

[WingsOfLovePhoto]

Good evening dgrinners! As usual I have a question to pose to anyone who might want to answer :D I recently bought a scenic muslin. The picture online showed what was a very light slightly floral painted muslin. When I got it it was yellows/browns and not really floral. I wrote to the company and they said that it is how it is described and I just have to light it right. So I have tried that.... here is what the described picture was and just a small part of what it looks like in a photoshoot. Can anyone suggest a way to really light this background so it is brighter? I expected to use this for easter portraits and it just isn't working as is. This photo with the baby in it has a ab 400 directed at it. I need to make it lighter without losing the look. Any help would be appreciated.


http://wingsoflove.smugmug.com/photos/491814802_riaGj-M.jpg

[WingsOfLovePhoto]

actually seeing it here it looks similar but I still need it lighter so ?? Oh and I have the availablilty of using gels. Will that help?

[Art Scott]

The main reason for the difference in the looks is the crop you shot......your subject is dang near dead center of the "hotspot" and subject is too small to encompass the actual floral designs of the the outer parts of the background.....you may want to consider returning and exchanging for a bg without any hotspot areas or just try shooting really small subjects off to one side and try to not have the hotspot area show (tough to do).......also most backdrops are shown hanging straight so you see the full width and length....in stead of showing you what it will look like hanging in a studio with part of it flowing a cross a floor.