I am having an identity crisis and could use some "professional" help. I am starting out on my own and need a name. I have pondered the thought of using my name, but no one can say our last name. I have also had the assumed name "Remembrance" registered with the state since '99 but there is a photographer from a bordering state with the same name and she advertises in the area. Neither of these options make good business sense to me, so onto option 2.

Here is where I could use your two cents.

My primary focus is on babies/children and family relationships. I will also take seniors and weddings, but they would not be my primary focus.

Some key concepts that I am going to incorporate into my marketing are:

• Life's Journey
• natural/relaxed
• Your story/chapters of life
• lifestyle portraiture
• beauty within shining through

My ultimate goal would be capture images of each individual that would be a remembrance/reminder of the true beauty God has created in them.

I have pondered using Shelly Renee Photography which is my first and middle name. By not using my last name I have to register with the state so I could be a little more creative if I have to go through the process anyways.

OSP can you help me find my identity?

It's always tough trying to help someone find their name. Here goes anyway

1. Photography by Shelly
2. Lifes Journey Photography- by Shelley
3. Cherished Moments Photography
4. Pay Me I Give Photos Photography j/k

Maybe these can give you some inspiration (or help you know what you don't want ).

Good luck.

I personally like the Pay Me I Give Photos... Really goes with the theme "Show me the MONEY!" LOL I am more like, "I'll pay you for the privilage", but I have been working on that.

I know it is hard to give advice on this kind of question. Just thought I would throw it out there. I have just decided that I would trust God on this one and let him lead me in a different direction or confirm where I was heading.

Thanks for the ideas and the good laugh. Broke that serious thought pattern...

I think youve nailed it yourself

True Beauty Photography

How about Chapter House?

I find it very interesting how things work out sometimes. After posing the question earlier this morning I have had some amazing things happen.

Besides your wonderful advice/ideas, I have had a couple of friends call/email out of the blue with scripture. They had no idea I had just posted a question!

The scripture was on trust and reflection, so, I will once again wait on the LORD. I also reminded of the scripture on God's small voice. I have heard the wind rushing this past few weeks and I have felt the mountains trembling. Now, I will wait for the LORD and trust in Him.

Not what I expected when I first posted, but I am excited to see where it goes.

hey how about Life's Chapters Photography? (assuming no one else is using the same name)

+1

Or, the "Beauty Within," Photography by Shelly

Oooo... I am just full of thoughts from everyones recommendations.

I just had a friend call and recommend "Essence Photography" or "Your Story Portrait Design".

If you have any more ideas I am so open right now. I have a few favorites that have been shared and need to check into them more. They are the ones along the line of beauty and chapters.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Careful choosing a name. Mine is Heirloom Photography. I hate it. I chose it when I THOUGHT I wanted to do children's B&W photography. Tried it for a year or so, didn't last. NOW I only do weddings and everyone assumes that I am traditional in style. I wish I'd chosen something else... like my name.

Think long and hard....

Thanks! That is one of the biggest reasons why I want to make a change. I loved the name Remembrance when I choose it years ago, but now there are so many businesses out there with the same name.

I appreciate you sharing your experience. It gives me food for thought.

Shelly,
I haven't read everyone elses comments yet, but I would say go with your own name. Most of the photographers (including myself) that started with a name other than their own eventually changed their biz name to include their name. As a photographer you are selling your self more than anything and it will be easier for potential clients to hear your name repeated by others than "remembrance something" or some people passing on your biz name and others your real name- they will then assume it is two different photogs instead of one very popular one. Hope this makes sense. What ever you decide will I'm sure be a great fit. Best of luck with everything! -Ashley

I'm with Ashley. Use your name. But since you do have a unique spelling for your last name, when you buy the domain for it, be sure to buy the most common misspelled variants too. Most hosting companies can point other URLs to your site. For example, christinetremoulet.com takes you to my main site, but I have christineselleck.com too (my maiden name) now to point at it this weekend.

Christine

http://www.aimfiregrow.com/free_stuff.html

Check out the marketing plan workbook- awesome stuff over there

Hi,

yes, it is hard. Shelley Renee is interesting. I have a friend who does some work with DJ, and I think Me Colon, and she did exactly the same as you, first and middle names. In her case that's Kristin Renee She is at www.kristinrenee.com Must be a popular middle name. :-)

I have to say, Remembrance suggests to me someone who would photograph a funeral. Sorry, but it sounds "old" to me. I hope that doesn't offend you or anyone else.

I can't think of anything useful right now, but I will keep my mind on it for you.

Hugh

Jessica, why don't you start calling yourself "Heirloom Photography by Jessica Messer" for a couple of years, and then start to let go the Heirloom part? Just a thought.

Hugh

oh, one question.

Does anyone think that using your own name is a disadvantage?

What springs to mind is clients asking, or expecting, you to do absolutely everything. If you are the only person who will take the shots, attend the meetings, deal with client issues, etc, then that's fine.

But will it always be that way? Do you want to expand? If you had a studio manager you might find that clients would be saying stuff like "I will only deal with Shelley" etc. I suppose that people might feel that they are being short changed if you don't personally do everything for and with them. Great at the start, but maybe different in the future. See where I am going with this? I depends on your long term goals.

Just a thought.

Hugh

+1 on using your name.

I originally used "Approaching Infinity"
It's a calculus term in reference to limits, yada yada.
it came to me when i was at a traffic light in front of a dairy queen. i'll never forget that. and i thought THAT'S IT!!!! then i started setting up emails, making business cards, and doing all the business side of it...

and then i changed my mind

to my name. I however, am freakish about my last name being out there floating around since my first name is different enough. I'm also a single mommy and anyone that googles me can find me like *THAT* Including my address, phone number, things i've been involved with in the community, etc. It just scares me a wee bit.

The only down side to using your name is (as Christine said) spelling errors. I cannot agree more with her when she says to by domains that are similar. If you go with Shelley Renee photography, i'd buy out shellyrenee and shelleyrene - maybe even shellyrene

Do some research and find sites that are similar to your name. You don't want to point them in the direction of another photographer either...

I think i'm rambling. but i haven't had coffee.

good luck! i second "Shelley Renee" though!

That was my thoughts after evaluating the name for a while. It sounded cool when scrapbooking hit it big. I was able to play off that movement a lot.

I had a couple of long chats yesterday and came to the conclusion that I was on the right track with Shelly Renee Photography. It has been my number one choice from the beginning but I wanted to make sure.

Part of my stuggle was the same as you mentioned in your second post. What happens if I add additional staff in time or grow the business and decide to sell? We had a photographer in the area I came from sell her business because she had moved out of the area. The new owners kept the business the same name because it was so well known. This is the last thing I would want. But, since we are so much more global today I don't think that will be as much of an issue.

Anyone else have any thoughts or experiences either way?

I'll cast another vote for your first and middle names. I think that unless you have a GREAT alternative name, selling yourself is a big thing (one of the absolute best I think I've seen is Little Monsters Photography, Link, ...though sometimes those things can seem to box people in).

I know people worry about adding others on, but for most people, that's a ways down the road, number one, and number 2, I've seen a good number of people do it without any problems...off the top of my head, Carrie Viohl, I know, has other staff members...I'm pretty sure Becker does too....and I know I've seen others...at some point, clients just "get" that you need additional staff, etc.