Personal or corperate...?

[Davy-Kelly]

Hi all,

I have recently decided to make the switch from a personal web address to a more business like sounding one and am wondering what your thoughts are on the topic.

Till now I have been operating under the name "Davy Kelly Photography (http://www.davykelly.co.uk)" and this has served me well to date. Recently however I decided to switch to "Sidelight Photography (http://www.sidelight.org.uk)" (please note this site is nothing like complete and the stuff on there is only there prevent error pages coming up when viewed).

One thing that you will note is that the Davy site is a .co.uk domain and the Sidelight site is a .org.uk. I know that .org.uk is intended for organisation use but I didn't think it would make a huge difference to potential clients (what are your thoughts on that?)

My reasoning for making the change is because some day (in the far off future) I wish to retire and sell the buisness name on. which will be a lot easier to do with a name like Sidelight than Davy Kelly.

I'm just interested to hear your thoughts on the rational behind your business name.

Looking forward to your replies.

Kind regards, Davy

PS, I haven't fully made the switch yet, so it's not really to late to change if its a really bad idea

[MDteX]

I too chose a business name that is not my personal name for the same reason you mention. Long term vision. It seems the most common is to use one's own name but I've never been crazy about that.

I doubt I (or most others) would ever have to worry about selling out to someone else or franchising. I bet some of the more qualified, experienced and very profitable photogs on here do have that option though.

[Davy-Kelly]

anyone elses thoughts?

[Karl Johnston]

This isn't just the website address, is it? You're looking into changing your business name? Are you registered by local gov't or by federal gov't currently? The studio I set up; they are registered locally and provincially as a firm, but there's a process to forming a company and changing the name that may differ in your area than from mine. I'd research in with a lawyer or your local town/city hall should have the paperwork for redesignated your name.

If you intend to sell it off eventually, it'd help to get a lawyer involved. Are you selling the business name, the business itself or the physical location of the business?

It's a huge topic, hope that gives you some fuel for reading material

[Mike R]

I really dont think it makes a difference if the site is a .co , .com , .org
the .org is new because of the volume of domains.

[Box Brownie]

It was my understanding that .org domains were 'targeted' at non profit operations such as charities & quango's i.e. not a commercial site???

[Mike R]

It was my understanding that .org domains were 'targeted' at non profit operations such as charities & quango's i.e. not a commercial site???
You're right, .biz is for commercial

[yanchula81]

Names can work, but I can understand the change. I wouldn't consider changing the name until I had other photographers working for me. Your name correlated with your business is better for work of mouth. like "Oh Jenny had the best photographer at her wedding, his name was Davy Kelly" and so that person looks you up by name if they want to hire you. Now if you change your business name you might lose word of mouth business.

[Mike R]

Names can work, but I can understand the change. I wouldn't consider changing the name until I had other photographers working for me. Your name correlated with your business is better for work of mouth. like "Oh Jenny had the best photographer at her wedding, his name was Davy Kelly" and so that person looks you up by name if they want to hire you. Now if you change your business name you might lose word of mouth business.

Makes a lot of sense. I know a photographer who has a studio and once he was established, he change from using his name, his reasoning was that it would be easier to sell the business when he retires

[yanchula81]

Makes a lot of sense. I know a photographer who has a studio and once he was established, he change from using his name, his reasoning was that it would be easier to sell the business when he retires
That makes sense. I was just thinking one person working out of their own home, like me. I can see both sides of the argument, I guess it really comes down to how large and invested you are.

[Mike R]

I use my name. Some may say that it's not creative but my customers know that when they hire me, They get me and not someone who works for me. They called me because they like what I do, not what my company does. Another studio in the area (owners name) HAD an excellent reputation untill the son (same full name) started shooting and people could tell that his heart wasn't in it.

[DDCSD]

I have found that people get confused when they have to spell out long of semi-complicated names. they also tend to use a standard address instead of a .org name. i personally would use our own name for the website. The business name isn't worth as much as you likely think it will be.

[Karl Johnston]

I agree with the above, I have other photographers and people working with me so the name Satori Studios was born and registered. I think it works both ways, though, if someone is looking for Tom Kanes because they heard a good review from someone, they link to the bigger company he's affiliated with and then everyone under that umbrella gets a little bit of the credit, (if theres 4 photographers working for me, and hes one of them, then the other 3 get a look too).