Alright so I need to finally settle on a name… so I can start working on branding/name recognition, a website, cards, yadda yadda. So far I’ve just been working under my own name, and I’ve always thought I wanted to do something different. However, the more I think about the “different” names the more I realize #1, they might not be all that different, and #2, they might be really hard to remember for referrals, etc.

So I’ve done a little reading on what others have thought about this, and the consensus seems to be that it’s better to just use your real name. But I have a problem with that…. I don’t know why, I just don’t really like the idea. Then again, maybe I should… so maybe I just need a kick in the head. Whatever happens, I really just need to settle on something, design a cool logo/look, and go with it. So I need some inspiration. Many moons ago when I was first thinking “hey, I could do photography” I was going to use photoroo, because roo was always my nickname and I thought it was super original with lots of branding possibilities. 2 days before I was going to register the domain someone else did. I was like, what the?!? Nobody else was supposed to think of that! But they did… so then I thought I could use the first three letters, photoreu, but then people might think they’re initials, or forget what order they go in (rue?)…

So now I’m thinking more about using my name. My first thought was GoReuben Photography. Just because I thought it was kinda catchy and cool… but then I run it by my wife and she hates it because it sounds pretentious (I was thinking “go with reuben,” not trying to be my own cheerleader, but whatever). Anyway I’m getting really frustrated trying to think of something that will work that isn't just "Reuben Bakker Photography" ::yawn:: On the other hand I definitely don’t want to pick a name just to end up changing it later. I’d much rather use my first name than my last, but could use either, or both. All these photography names are starting to sound very redundant.. but maybe I’m not thinking like a client. Anyway, help! I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions… next I’ll need help with a logo

Reubs...

I like the sound of Reuben Bakker PHotography. Wow...your initials can really drum up a mean logo. RBP
I did the business name change too. Your name is you and you are original. I like it. Listen to your wife. She knows...wives always know.

KK

...yeah, I know

I just dont want to sound like everyone else! ugh... but I guess nobody else is named Reuben Bakker (that I know of anyway)... hmm... I guess if I saw the really mean logo and the name in a cool font, maybe it would start to grow on me.. and I know for the business aspect it would probably be the most solid route to go...

anyone else have thoughts on this?

Sounds like a sandwich shop/bakery to me. Yeah, yeah, you've never heard that one before. ;-)

I like the first, last, photography. I thought about Adam Squier Photography, but we set it up from the beginning as a partnership (no, not legally) so I didn't want to be exclusive. And I sign things "AEJ Squier," anyway.

Reuben's Photography Studio, Reuben Photographic, RB Fotografia (for that exotic, foreign-sounding name to get the high-class clients -- heh heh), The Photo Bakkery. I kind of like that! But make sure to register the obvious spelling, too. I regestered "squirephotography.com" as well as the REAL spelling of squierphotography.com. It just bounces to the real site.

Brilliant! No one can spell our last night right, and this was something that I worried about... never even thought about doing this!!!!

amber

Oh this is my favorite part about the forum!!



I love it!! And I'm not kidding either. I think it's pretty clever.

Maybe look back into your familly... Thats where I got my biz name, Lily Photography. That was my great grandmothers name and clients are always awwww sooo cute. . We have some farms too and they are all called Lillie Belle Farms. I spelled it Lily cause I think it would be easier to remember.
I always liked names with studio in it. Like RB Studio.

My asst photography co is named KEM. Mike E. Keithy. Get it?


Maybe something close to you, Like a river or something? Meramec Photography? I dont know, just throwing it out there. Name it after your wife or you child?
~Alisha

Yeah I seriously thought about doing that too... my wife's name is Dew... which I think could make a pretty cool sounding name.. and I'd get the "awww" factor from brides too

how about Studio Dew?

I like the names with "studio" in them too... even though I dont have a studio and probably wont for a long time. Another think I'm trying to keep in mind is I want to do more than just weddings. I'm interested in doing commercial work and portraiture as well.. so I dont want it to be too cutesy for other type of clients either.

Oh yeah and my last name is *technically* supposed to be pronounced more like Bocker... (like the second "o" in photography). Bakker. Half my family pronounces it Baker though and I dont think ANYONE has ever actually said "Bocker" to me unless they heard it from me first.... I grew up saying Baker but half my family still says it the "real way." It's just too confusing... lol

Uben Photographed...
get it.. Rueben -- Uben.. lol.. j/k
Ok so Im a little under the weather and not thinking clearly..
Of course I crack myself up all the time.

Big hugs Rueben on picking your new name.

I'm sure it will be wonderful what ever you go with.

BTW.. you need to email me your addy.. : )

Talk to you soon..







L.

Hi Reuben.

I just registered SeanWilliamsPhotography.com after thinking this through. I really wanted SeanWilliams.com, but there is also an Austrailian science fiction writer of the same name. SeanCWilliams.com - A fitness model.

Ugh.

Jus remember that you are your brand.

Weddings are a deeply personal milestone in your clients lives. They will remember Reuben Bakker, the photographs he took, and how he treated them more than any clever name you can come up with.

I feel what you're going through...

Personally, I like Kathrine's idea of "RBP Imaging - Photography by Reuben Bakker"

Swap out Imaging for another word, though... Otherwise it sounds like you're a copy machine. But I think you can have some fun with that.

But there's nothing wrong with naming your business like a book with a title and subtitle/slogan.

I'm INQ Photography (pronounced "ink")... I don't know why, really... It's just been that since I was 12 and started taking pictures.. I've tried working out branding, but now I'm scared to break away from that. With a certain actor and some sexy jeans, people now LOVE my name (Billy Diesel) and think I should use it... but I just don't know that I'm ready to make the transition, and I'm just not as cool as people want me to be with that name.

So for now, I'm INQ Photography - Images Created by William Diesel or something like that... My letterhead for invoices and such just says William Diesel in a classy attorney style font, but all my promo stuff has the swirly INQ branding on it.

If you play around - you'll find what you like. You can always settle on both.

-Billy

Dude you should totally be using your name, it rocks! I like how you're using both Inq as well as your name together with the title/subtitle idea.. I might look into doing something like that... just because I'm so indecisive!

From someone who just went through a name change (Alan Smilie Photography to Thomas Alan Photography) I really, really, reeeeally feel your pain on this.

I've had many people tell me they prefer photographers that use their name because it make them more trust worthy in some way and that it's more personal.

This is why I only dropped my last name.

Using your name works with all types of photography too.

Wew! I'm getting a headache just thinking about all this again

I agree. The name is personal and makes me feel like I'm going to be taken care of. It' sounds "family" oriented. It's not a big corp. that's gonna put me on hold forever or pass me down the chain.

good point. Thanks for the input everyone.
It's definitely not an easy decision. I'm still racking my brain over this... need to come up with some comps for a logo and the names in a few different fonts to feel them out. I think I'm definitely convinced to use my name in some way or another. I was hoping to avoid the Xxxx Xxxxxx Photography just because that's what so many people use... but it's what I may end up with... Maybe if I can get someone to design a really unique logo for me I'll feel better about it

I like GOREUBEN.COM ...and it might be available Don't bother with putting photography in there! Names are names - they are NOT descriptions! Names that describe the service sound cheap!

I also just posted some notes in this thread - naming your business and stuff

Thanks David! See I really like the name www.goreuben.com... I've just had some negative feedback on it. I think it sounds original, not cheap, and still has my name in it... hmm.

Negative feedback is GOOD! Great names have an edge so be glad that some people don't like it!

When I pulled "photography" out of my name some people felt really uncomfortable with it and now I'm trying to go one step further and pull davidjay from it! Symbols speak even louder than words!

thanks so much for the encouragement DJ, you're really getting me going now!

Seems to me that "His Royal Purpleness" did that once. Didn't work out too well so he went back to his one (middle) name.

Yea! Prince is weird though...

...and I'm not changing my name to a symbol or anything odd like that - just taking it off promo material and that sorta stuff.

The Photographer Formerly Known As David Jay

lol!