Christmas Cards

Trying to get pictures for Christmas Cards. Here's what I got. Tell me what you think.

The photos look underexposed. Flash in the first shot created some harsh shadows. Photos don't really say Christmas to me. Not even with the hat.

Yeah I'm probably going to have to reshoot it. It is so hard with a Basset because they are so lazy they barely want to move. Thanks for the feedback.

I agree with kyle on this. You really need a christmas theme for something like this to work. A black or white background wont do.A hat alone doesn't spell Christmas ( maybe holloween though ). Even something as simple as gift wrapping as the background would work wonders. Be creative. Lets see.... Lazy dog, Fire place, warm fuzzy atmosphere... maybe a nearby tree, or gifts... Perhaps the dog is looking at santas boots. Just tossing ideas out there for you ;) also give the hat more charactor.. droop that sucker over his eye or something.

Those are great ideas. I will try some things and post them. Thank you

also, take your flash off your camera if you can. !!