Real name vs made up one

[Armywife]

Ive been debating this for a long time now, and i really need to decide! So i thought i would ask all of you guys for your options on this one. I have heard and thought about alot of pros and cons to both. Heres what i have thought of so far for names....(in no particular order of preference)

1. Jessica Silver Photography
2. J Silver Photography
3. Siver Photography
4. Silver Star Photography


Heres where my delima comes in, im not sure if i should use my name, since using your name in your buisness title gets your name known, where as a made up name doesnt quite get you that well known, although even my made up name comes from my name. And i was looking around at what i need to do to register my business name, and it was saying (if i read it right) that you only have to do that if its not your legal name. Does anyone know any more on that? I am in CA, but we are also military, so i dont know if that makes a difference, as sometimes it does.

Im trying really hard to sort all of this stuff out, but there really is alot!!! And the name is such a huge part of it, as its kinda hard to change the name, so i want to make it a good one!!!

What do you guys think???

[FlyingPhotog]

GIven that you've got a military connection, "Silver Star Photography" is a great name...

[Pete]

Choice 1 works for me. Simple and effective. And letting your clients knowing your first name makes things more open and approachable as well.

[jongobongo]

I think it depends on what kind of business you are going have.

A company
1. where you are strictly the primary photographer, then I'd go with #1
2. where there are a group of you where others might be sent out to shoot without you, then #4 good.

Are you selling yourself or your business?

[2tall]

you may also want a name where the .com domain is available...

and a quick check of silverstarphotography.com shows it's taken, unless you just bought it.

[MJPhotos24]

using your name in your buisness title gets your name known, where as a made up name doesnt quite get you that well known
There's some photographers very well known under business names. Easier of course for personal use to have your name to garner attention, however, I can't count how many times people thought I worked for Mike Janes Photography and not me.

it was saying (if i read it right) that you only have to do that if its not your legal name. Does anyone know any more on that?
Here you have to register either way, your name or not. There's other people out there with the same name.

Im trying really hard to sort all of this stuff out, but there really is alot!!!
85% back end work, 15% shooting. That's what it comes down to when you actually start photography as a business.

Do like 1 & 4 but depends what type of photography you get into.

[Peacefield]

I worked through the same issues and thought I would share how I ended up where I did.

Unlike you, my last name is VERY German, somewhat inelegant sounding, and it is often mispronounced and more often misspelled. It was easy to decide against My Name Photography.

My first thought, then, was to name it Liberty Studios. I like the multiple meanings. My model is to sell high res images on DVD and let the couple do their thing so there's freedom for them, I'm free of the administrative burden of producing albums, etc., and I'm also an avid student of colonial and revolutionary American history. I like the way the name works. And most important of all, it's a simple name (and hopefully web adress) that anyone can remember.

I then thought of using my wife's middle name, Rose. There are a few iternations that would work, and once again, simple and memorable.

I finally decided to name the business for my twin sons, Robert Wayne Photography. Not as simple, short, or memorable as Liberty or Rose, but simple enough, it's a mile better than my own name, and both I and my boys are delighted with it.

[Alleh]

Personally I think made up names in photography are corny. I would use your name as it always looks and sounds far more professional. In the higher end of photography using a made up name is very uncommon it's far more popular with the cheesy retail photographer that generally are not that good.

I just wanted to add that if you have a goal of say being an advertising photographer like myself then making up a second fake name to shoot weddings for example can be a good option. I don't want my advertising clients to even know I shoot weddings so I use my name for what I really want to do and something different for the things I do to keep money flowing in the meantime. The Benjamin DiCaprio name in the wedding photography link was made up by my partner that I shoot weddings with. Neither one of us has a long term goal of doing wedding photography but we need the income to support the ongoing creation of our personal portfolios.

[Alleh]

What about Jessica Silver Photographer
http://www.allehphotography.com/postedimages/jessicabiscard.jpg

[Karl Johnston]

There's a reason why people use their own names in setting up their businesses in photography:

If you use your own name, you don't have to go through all the channels of registration and taxes that you do with using a made up "business title." I remember having that when I went to register a name but since my name is very generally well known, and not in a good way :D, I went with the latter even though it would be more of a headache in the long run.
Say John Smith Photography

Opposed to

Long John Photography Services.

bw!

It's cheaper in the long run but doesn't allow the greatest flexbility for your name, as you have to use your own legal one.
http://www.biztrek.com/articles/Naming%20your%20business.htm

[Armywife]

So, is it any variation of your legal name?

Why does this have to be such a hard decision? Im nowhere closer to naming my business than i was 5 months ago.......

Im about to get to the point of just drawing a name out of a hat!!!

Thanks for everyones advice!!!

[Karl Johnston]

I'm not sure what the techncialities of it are, i'm in a different country than you and it differs by province and territory. I think its the same in the USA but check out your state laws

[dekalbSTEEL]

Use your real name, if you become uber-successful, you could even sell the business when you retire.

I had a buddy in college who's dad bought out his boss's plumbing company (Wm. Frazier Plumbing) and kept the name. His name was Ed Smith. He made a ton of dough off the old guy's name......

[JWright]

Is there any market for a photography business at Ft. Irwin? There's nothing there except the base...

Seriously, the simplest way is to just use your real name. That way you don't have addition hassle and expense of publishing a ficticious name (as it's called in California.)

[EnronRocks]

It is a lot easier to use your name than it's to use a made up name. Business wise it is smarter to, and saves some time before you need to file a full DBA or business type corporation or LLC.

[Undispu7ed]

There's a reason why people use their own names in setting up their businesses in photography:

If you use your own name, you don't have to go through all the channels of registration and taxes that you do with using a made up "business title." I remember having that when I went to register a name but since my name is very generally well known, and not in a good way :D, I went with the latter even though it would be more of a headache in the long run.
Say John Smith Photography

Opposed to

Long John Photography Services.

bw!

It's cheaper in the long run but doesn't allow the greatest flexbility for your name, as you have to use your own legal one.
http://www.biztrek.com/articles/Naming%20your%20business.htm

Very true