Really struggling with name

[Celise]

I could really use some advice. I've been doing research on coming up with a name for my photography business. Most of the advice I have read says you should use your first and last name with photography. However, you should also make it easy for people to remember, spell, find, etc. My name is Celise Salmon (pronounced suleese) which is a bit of a tongue twister together and is not easy to spell, say, or remember. So I'm stuck on what to use as my business name. As someone who has never met me before, do you think Celise Salmon Photography sounds good? Or should I go with Photography by Celise or Portraits by Celise, etc.? I have friends who are saying I should just come up with a cute name and not use my own name. Would that be better for me? I would greatly appreciate any and all advice I can get from you. Thanks so much!

[Karl Johnston]

(your name) photography

The brand is what you should concentrate on making easier to remember. A logo as well, simple is best. Nothing too flourish or fancy.

It's not too imperatif though

[photoguy6405]

Would the fact that the pronunciation of your name doesn't exactly match the spelling be a hindrance? I mean, in person, are you going to have to continuously spell it so that people will remember it well enough to find it on the web?

Having said that, I think either Celise Salmon Photography or Photography by Celise sound good. The former being a little too common for my taste, and the latter having a slightly less common yet classy feel to it.

[Cosha]

Photography by Celise

I like it! Sounds Pro!

You sound like me, i dont like my name, its boring! :D

[EmmaRose]

I like Celise photography

[ChrisMc73]

+1, Celise Photography, short, catch, to the point, if they can get the pronunciation right, but its not that hard. I dig it.

I have been struggling too Celise, but for different reasons, I'm trying to come up with something other than {my name} Photography, just because I think its too easy to use that, not creative, and everyone does it, if I can come up with something other than my name, that makes sense, and works, I will use that. But its been hard, so far I have nothing solid.

I wanted to use {my LAST name} Photography, but it has been taken.

[Cosha]

+1, Celise Photography, short, catch, to the point, if they can get the pronunciation right, but its not that hard. I dig it.

I have been struggling too Celise, but for different reasons, I'm trying to come up with something other than {my name} Photography, just because I think its too easy to use that, not creative, and everyone does it, if I can come up with something other than my name, that makes sense, and works, I will use that. But its been hard, so far I have nothing solid.

I wanted to use {my LAST name} Photography, but it has been taken.

Oak Photography??? As in Oklahoma

Or Okla Photography? Thats quite catchy too :D

'Hi My names Chris, founder of Okla Photography' Sounds funky and classy to me!

[ChrisMc73]

Oak Photography??? As in Oklahoma

Or Okla Photography? Thats quite catchy too :D

'Hi My names Chris, founder of Okla Photography' Sounds funky and classy to me!

Well, I tossed around regional names like that but I'd rather not tie myself to a region.
I don't want to hijack his thread here with my issues...he started it for helping him, so I need to start my own thread for ideas. Thanks though.

[Celise]

Thank you all for your input, I really appreciate it! I'm probably just overthinking the thing way too much. I do have to spell my name for people all the time, so that was my concern. However, on the other hand, it's different enough to (hopefully) be memorable. So the 3 names I'm debating between is Celise Salmon Photography, Photography by Celise, or Celise Photography. Any votes? :)

Thanks again, everyone!
Celise

[Hikin Mike]

Would the fact that the pronunciation of your name doesn't exactly match the spelling be a hindrance? I mean, in person, are you going to have to continuously spell it so that people will remember it well enough to find it on the web?

Having said that, I think either Celise Salmon Photography or Photography by Celise sound good. The former being a little too common for my taste, and the latter having a slightly less common yet classy feel to it.

You're going to give them a business card anyway, right? So don't worry about trying to spell your name.

Same thing with finding you on the web. A prospective client won't know you from Adam. They'll be searching for a photographer that specializes in what you do. That's why when you design your website, SEO is very important.

[dsd17]

So the 3 names I'm debating between is Celise Salmon Photography, Photography by Celise, or Celise Photography. Any votes? :)


This will make things a little easier. celisephotography.com is already taken (unless its owned by you already).

photographybycelise.com is currently available.

[coalcliff]

Celise Salmon Shutterbug Services would be a fun name for a week!

Seriously you should think about what style of photography you are going to be offering and incorporate that in the name.

[Celise]

This will make things a little easier. celisephotography.com is already taken (unless its owned by you already).

photographybycelise.com is currently available.

Well that surprised me! I guess my name isn't as unique as I thought. :) Thanks for checking on that for me. I had hoped to have a small domain name like csphotos, but that's obviously taken too. Hmmm. I'll give it more thought. Thanks so much for everyone's help!

[ChrisMc73]

If it makes you feel any better, I've been struggling to come up with a name too, its not easy when you're trying to do something totally unique. Brainstorming for several months now with nothing that has grabbed a hold of me yet. I am about to just do the personal name route, like everyone does, and down the line if/when a unique name comes to me, I can make changes...I just want to get my web presence up and going...

[photoguy6405]

Well that surprised me! I guess my name isn't as unique as I thought. :) Thanks for checking on that for me. I had hoped to have a small domain name like csphotos, but that's obviously taken too. Hmmm. I'll give it more thought. Thanks so much for everyone's help!
Yeah, you'll find that most of the really cool short easy names were grabbed up long ago.

[golfecho]

I like Celise Photography also, but if that's not your choice, how about initials? CS Photography. CSP. Many times initials are used and become a recognized trademark.

Just another thought . . .

[leninglass]

Man.. I am lucky enough to have my name =D Lenin Glass Photography. Even onewed called me asking if this is my real name or company name. lol

L Glass ^_-

[ChrisMc73]

Man.. I am lucky enough to have my name =D Lenin Glass Photography. Even onewed called me asking if this is my real name or company name. lol

L Glass ^_-

Thats cool, but I think only us photography (Canon) geeks would get it though.

[leninglass]

lol yes. I dont really use it as a business name or reference to that at all. Lenin Glass it self is catchy =P

[Mick_I]

use your name, that's who your selling.

[HastyPhoto]

CeliseSalmon.com is available, you might wanta grab it just to have it.

[Cosha]

I grabbed:

BenSmith.Biz, 6 months ago so i have it parked currently!

I 100% did not expect to get a 'Smith' in the name, let alone 'Ben' as its a common name!

Was not sure about .Biz but what the hell :D

[Mark1]

What do you plan on shooting? That will help narrow it down a lot. "Portraits by Celise" will not be good if you are doing architecture work. If in deed you are doing portraits, What are you shooting, kids, seniors, everything, and in what style are you shooting them in? That can narrow it down as well.

I personaly hate "My name" Photography. If you cant get creative with the name, how creative can your work be? That said I do have "my name".com