Using your name vs. some made up name ?

For the last 3 or so years I've been using my name for my photography business.

for example:

mynamephotography
firstname-lastname.com

From a marketing stand point, is it better to use a company name like for example: 92photo, fortythreephotography, shutter cam photography... OR just use your name to market your photography.

I've been using my name all this time, but am having second thoughts now... what do you guys think?

I'm going the opposite way. Have been using Montana Moments Photography at montanamoments.com because I thought it'd be more memorable. In spite of worrying about people typing in my name without the e on the end, I'm planning on using my name this year. Are you feeling any drawbacks or limitations with using your name?

Linda

If you have a name like Maxtone Weatherball, perhaps a business name is better. If your name is Rock Sampson, use your name.

I have wondered the same thing! and in all honesty the only time I use my name is for commercial or advertising jobs... when I photograph weddings or anything having to do with families, I use our other business name because the name just fits for that market.

If you list all the famous photographers you know about, you'll probably realize that you know them by name. If you know their company, the company name is the photographer's name.

Have you ever seen an original work of art signed as a company name? If your photography business depends on your personal eye for it's character, then there is nothing better for you to name it than after yourself, because you are your company.

And there really is no problem with having a difficult name. "Leibovitz." "David Nguyen."

I went the opposite route and avoided using my name... but my brand is all about who I am and what I do. It kind of helps though that I have trademarks registered, all the relevant domain names, twitter, facebook profile names, etc.

It depends how creative you are with your business name and what your real name is. Not many business names really are very original or clever, TBH. I don't use my real name because my father is already well known in this town, and our names are identical. Plus it just doesn't sound good. It looks beautiful on a check though.

some good info in this thread

I actually have a unique name, and not too long..

It's just that when advertising or such, you would be giving our your name, I just already thought some word or something to describe your company would be better... sort of confused on that.

Tacking "Photographer" or "Photography" on the end of your name should be sufficient. People know that photographers take photos.

RDKirk wrote in post #11620934
If you list all the famous photographers you know about, you'll probably realize that you know them by name. If you know their company, the company name is the photographer's name.

Have you ever seen an original work of art signed as a company name? If your photography business depends on your personal eye for it's character, then there is nothing better for you to name it than after yourself, because you are your company.

And there really is no problem with having a difficult name. "Leibovitz." "David Nguyen."

I did, Crosswind Images!

But I'm using my name, short and sweet. I'm only using my initials in my webstie tho

Rivest wrote in post #11622395
I did, Crosswind Images!

But I'm using my name, short and sweet. I'm only using my initials in my webstie tho

Haven't heard of it.

In general I like the idea of tying a business name into your personal name. In reality, since I was the one designing my logo, I couldn't manage it. Because it was my name, I was designing a logo to reflect me personally, and every idea I came up with, I knew I wouldn't like in six months.

Once I switched to naming after a camera concept I was able to design the logo around that.

Those of you who are looking to do company names vs. your own name, be sure to check with your bank and other entities whom will need to change your account names. Some banks do not allow a simple DBA (doing business as) addition to your account. In some cases, you have to register your name through the state (additional costs incurred), change your business license and tax ID (more costs), and setup a full business account through your bank (which sometimes have monthly fees as well). Having said that, if you will run into each of these costs, be sure that changing your name will be worth all of the effort, and possibly more importantly the total cost of ownership (over the life expectancy of your business).

I went with a business name, Lens Make A Picture.

I also own a web development company that has my last name in it....morriscode

RDKirk wrote in post #11623317
Haven't heard of it.

Crosswind is the only guy here doing aviation photography. His work recently got published into a magazine.

But apart from him, no I only know photographers by their name.