Changing my business name..

[SabrinaO]

Ok so I think I'm going I change my business name. Right now it's Sabrina Cameron Photography. It's my name and my sons name. I love my son and he is the reason why I really got into photography but I think the name is kind of lame. I mean everyone puts "their name + photography" and I just wanna be a little different. What do you think? I've been in business for about 7 months and I don't really think I've made a mark yet for it to be a big deal that I change my name. The only setback is the facebook fans that I have. I have over 800 but if they were real fans they would be fans of my new fanpage right? Advice is appreciated!

 

[gsgary]

Where do i get the popcorn smiley ?

 

[Malone]

Here's an interesting read -

Photography Business Names

When you use a business name that’s different than your own personal name, you’ll be developing and promoting an identity that’s separate from yourself.And that’s fine if you’re selling stuff that’s not really related to you. For example, if you have a shoe store on 3rd street, “Third Street Shoes” is an OK name.

Most photography businesses, however, promote the services of a particular person, or are at least identified with one primary person. Having a separate name for that person’s photography business detracts from promoting the person.

This has always been a dilemma for me in Pam’s promotional materials — do I promote Pam Farr the photographer, or Not Your Normal photography® the business?
The situation is made even more complicated by the fact that our business — Not Your Normal Photography® is not listed in the phone book, so if someone is looking for Not Your Normal Photography®, they simply won’t find us.

So we’ve had to make sure that our clients knew that Not Your Normal Photography® was really Pam Farr, the photographer and building Pam’s reputation in the community would have been easier and simpler if we had just promoted “Pam Farr photography” in the first place.

People like to buy from people.

Another factor to consider is that people like dealing with people.

In other words, it’s nice to put a “face” on a business, and the easiest way to do that, is to use your name as the name of your photography business.
In most cases, a “personality” driven business is easier to promote and easier for clients to relate to. A tell-tale sign of this — even though the official name of our business is Not Your Normal Photography® — many clients will automatically make the checks out to Pam Farr. So, you can make it easy and just “go with the flow” on this one.

 

[vtf]

Where do i get the popcorn smiley ?

Go advanced. Right side. just copy and paste mine for now.

I would not use a married name just first and or maiden because you run into a pain if a divorce occurs.

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

I would go with a different name. To me, a business shouldn't be your name. I mean I know companies do it, and it works well, but I just think something else would work better. Noone says you can't promote yourself as the photographer as well incase your work grows a following ( like if you really start to find some fine art niche and people want prints ) but if its just for general photographic services, I would go with a name. Not only does it sound better, it can also create a bit of a mystique. You could be a huge company with 20 pro photogs, or just some person living in their moms basement. That way the business and quality of work speaks for itself, rather than your name and reputation ( perhaps in a small town for instance where some enemies may spread bad gossip about you ) attracting or repelling customers. However, if you are geared more towards stock photography or selling strictly fine art prints, using your own name would be better I think due to it being more personal.

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

I guess it all boils down to what you want to be. How personal do you want to be? I mean I would rather have a wedding photographer with a name as opposed to a business. That doesn't sound as unique and noone wants just cookie cutter wedding pictures. Whereas if I am getting my school kids portraits, I would want a business name which seems more credible. Also, do you want a brick and mortar storefront/studio or just to do gigs here and there?

 

[mishele]

The success of your biz will not change based on it's name. So whatever you choose doesn't really matter.

 

[SabrinaO]

Here's an interesting read -Photography Business Names

When you use a business name that’s different than your own personal name, you’ll be developing and promoting an identity that’s separate from yourself.And that’s fine if you’re selling stuff that’s not really related to you. For example, if you have a shoe store on 3rd street, “Third Street Shoes” is an OK name.Most photography businesses, however, promote the services of a particular person, or are at least identified with one primary person. Having a separate name for that person’s photography business detracts from promoting the person.This has always been a dilemma for me in Pam’s promotional materials — do I promote Pam Farr the photographer, or Not Your Normal photography® the business?The situation is made even more complicated by the fact that our business — Not Your Normal Photography® is not listed in the phone book, so if someone is looking for Not Your Normal Photography®, they simply won’t find us.So we’ve had to make sure that our clients knew that Not Your Normal Photography® was really Pam Farr, the photographer and building Pam’s reputation in the community would have been easier and simpler if we had just promoted “Pam Farr photography” in the first place.People like to buy from people.Another factor to consider is that people like dealing with people.In other words, it’s nice to put a “face” on a business, and the easiest way to do that, is to use your name as the name of your photography business.In most cases, a “personality” driven business is easier to promote and easier for clients to relate to. A tell-tale sign of this — even though the official name of our business is Not Your Normal Photography® — many clients will automatically make the checks out to Pam Farr. So, you can make it easy and just “go with the flow” on this one.

Hmmm thanks for this. Something to think about.

 

[SabrinaO]

Where do i get the popcorn smiley ?

Go advanced. Right side. just copy and paste mine for now.I would not use a married name just first and or maiden because you run into a pain if a divorce occurs.

Lol I wouldn't use married name anyways. My father in law says their name is too "ethnic" and people mispronounce it all the time.

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

The success of your biz will not change based on it's name. So whatever you choose doesn't really matter.

Thats not entirely true. A name plays a bigger role than people think. Although much of it may be subconscious. If I called my wedding photog business "trailer trash images" do you think some bridezilla from an upper class neighborhood is going to even give me a call? Doubtful. Names can also benefit you simply for being easier to remember and having brand recognition. There is a billion dollar industry of advertising( which employs MANY of us photographers ) that is predicated entirely on names and image. Will having a cool name make you a better photographer? Not at all, but it can play a huge role in the path that your business takes.

 

[vtf]

Where do i get the popcorn smiley ?

Go advanced. Right side. just copy and paste mine for now.I would not use a married name just first and or maiden because you run into a pain if a divorce occurs.

Lol I wouldn't use married name anyways. My father in law says their name is too "ethnic" and people mispronounce it all the time.

Whatever you choose it should be able to last any type of issues whether be it future divorce, address change, marriage etc. and not be already taken.
Not an easy decision.

 

[Scoody]

My business is named Cynderella Photography after my wife and co-photographer, Cyndee.

 

[SabrinaO]

I guess it all boils down to what you want to be. How personal do you want to be? I mean I would rather have a wedding photographer with a name as opposed to a business. That doesn't sound as unique and noone wants just cookie cutter wedding pictures. Whereas if I am getting my school kids portraits, I would want a business name which seems more credible. Also, do you want a brick and mortar storefront/studio or just to do gigs here and there?

Hmmm so what are you saying? You'd rather do your personal name? I don't know what you mean by your last sentence...?

 

[SabrinaO]

I want it to be "Crazy Beautiful Photography" or a variation of.....
The dotcom is already taken so I'm trying to come up with a variation of that.

 

[mishele]

Yes, having a reasonable name is a good idea. But I still think regardless of your name it is YOU that needs to be remembered......your work. If I name my Biz AAA Photography to try to be the first in the phonebook, that's all great til 10 people hate the product they bought and your neat name isn't worth ****.....=) lol