Help with a new website/photography name!

[Kent2]

Ok here is the deal.

I first started quite a few years back charging for pictures I took at a local motorcycle hotspot here in SoCal called Palomar mountain. So I named my website PalomarPics.Net. Now I am shooting for Magazines and wanting to Book more track days. What do you think of the name?

The local public is a bit ticked off with the motorcycle traffic on Palomar, I do not shoot up there but on a rare occasion. Should I change the name to a more general photo name?

I have a few ideas, but do not want to post them afraid they might be taken after I post them....I would like to shoot more than just sports, I can do the normal portrait and am getting better with that side.

So let me know what you think.

Thanks,

Kent

[Pyromaniac]

I'm not sure that people will automatically associate the name with the bike traffic. I think they will assume it's something to do with the street, like it's where you had a studio or lived on the street or something like that.

[Kent2]

OK, but what do you think??

I also want to get the whole incorporated thing done soon. So I want to have the name down so it will not need to get changed.

Kent

[Rob612]

I voted for keeping it. Once you've got a domain name and people is getting used to, it's not worth changing. OTOH, if you have no traffic on your site then you can switch.

[tonytony]

what about your first and last name (if not too hard to remember).com?
In this way you are sure you are not going to change it in future (unless you visit Casablanca of course :-D)

Cheers,
Tony

[triangle]

Ok here is the deal.

I first started quite a few years back charging for pictures I took at a local motorcycle hotspot here in SoCal called Palomar mountain. So I named my website PalomarPics.Net. Now I am shooting for Magazines and wanting to Book more track days. What do you think of the name?

The local public is a bit ticked off with the motorcycle traffic on Palomar, I do not shoot up there but on a rare occasion. Should I change the name to a more general photo name?

I have a few ideas, but do not want to post them afraid they might be taken after I post them....I would like to shoot more than just sports, I can do the normal portrait and am getting better with that side.

So let me know what you think.

Thanks,

Kent


Kent, I started my business in October 2004. The public is already associating my name (Triangle Photography) with me and my images. My last name is hard to pronounce because of the spelling, and would be even harder as a website name. I showed up at a game earlier this year, and at the gate I stopped at the person selling programs. There was another parent talking to her and both had students in the game, I had gear in hand as I was buying a program. Their response to me was quote; " your triangle right?", and then they gave me their students jersey #'s to get some shots. It made me realize that the community was becoming aware of my business, now several months later we are even more of a prescence and are being called and asked to come to games.

With that being said, I would say keep your name. For the following reasons:

1. You have already established a business name and prescence.

2. When people see the work of the last few years you have done and inquire as to who took the picture, where do you think they will be told?

3. IMHO, the name does not limit you to your wanting to venture into other types of photography. (Motorcyclepics .com - would have ;) )

4. If your desire is to grow your business and expand, and that is happening why change?

5. I build websites (have for 7 years), and establishing your dot anything name is not easy. Once people know who you are and where they can find you, don't move. In other words if they know to go to PalomarPics.Net, then why change addresses on them?

That is just my 2 cents, since you asked.
Good luck in your venture.

[CappuccinoDavid]

What you should do, this is what I think, is use your name. Then an aka after it, then no matter what type of photography you get into people will know you not just another name. If you inc use your name it will cut on lot or red tape. When I was young I used lots of name for the business, but now I learn that it was more trouble than it was worth. If you don't beleive me just look in some to the top mags you will see personal name... Just something to think about

[Kent2]

Thanks guys!!

Triangle, I hear you on the establishment of a name. I do get alot of traffic and am well known here in SoCal. That is the main reason I do not want to change the name/web domain.

David, yes I see alot of Photographers just use their name for credits. How would you go about a webd domain? Just your name?

Hmm....... Now I think I have more questions than before.....?

Think time, where is my thinking chair agian??? Thats right the throne room.....

Kent

[symes]

If you are very concerned about the domain name you can change it and maintain two domain names that both link to the same site...just a thought, though not the simplest way.

Personally I don't see a big problem with the name...

Cheers

[PhotosGuy]

Keep the name since you're already getting known, but who says that you should only have one? If it was me, I'd change you're opening page to one that gave the bikers an option & "The local public is a bit ticked off with the motorcycle traffic on Palomar" another option to their pics. Then they don't have to see "Don't be a squid", & you're site will look more professional, too. ;-)