This is a question I've been struggling with for a while now. To explain, I was formerly Melanie Barry, but since getting married, I am now Melanie Swan. My business cards say "MB Photography" and my web address is mbarryphotography.com

So, the question is, do I leave everything as is, or do I attempt to change the 'ol business name? If I change everything, my main concern is that former clients, who are my main avenue of advertising, will not know me as Melanie Swan and will (obviously) not know about a web address change.

My husband suggests going ahead and changing everything and just point people to my new site through my old one.

Is this a good idea?

I think you can find something more alluring with a name like swan. It immediately evokes grace and elegance that I see in your photography.

https://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/registrar/se...hdr=&ci=574

I think this should answer the question for you

just think of the logo and branding you can do with it

good luck,
Ran

yeah, maybe it's time to take the name away from your name entirely........that way you don't need to change it again when that charmer Ryan J sweeps into town and woos you away to Brooklyn NY..............I'm just saying...........



if you're going to change names, you have to redirect for quite a while until people come over to the new site.......that is a certainty!

sorry about that, the link was supposed to be the godaddy link,

MelanieSwanPhoto.com

is available

I agree that the name "Swan" evokes elegance. We just changed our business name and so far, so good. We'll see if our clients find us in the next few weeks.

Hahaha...*cough*...dude...shh...

Uhm... I've had three biz names in the last two years... doesn't seem to be effecting traffic. HOWEVER... three times is EXCESSIVE!

1. Bobbi Studio
2. byBobbi
3. bobbi+mike

SHEESH!

Yes, I know! I have been tempted to buy it.

Thanks to all who have replied!

The only caveat is that there is already a fairly famous "swan" photographer out there... make sure your branding looks NOTHING like theirs!

Oh. Feeling uninformed right now.... Who is it?

Off to google swan photographers.....

swan

Thank you Bobbi!!

Op! So sorry, I didn't mean to be cryptic!!

Hey Mel! I would say change your name. First, it is now who you are Plus, you have to think of future clients and word-of-mouth. It might be hard for a new person meeting you to try to remember that Melanie Swan (who they just met) is actually Melanie Barry Photography. Seems like it could get confusing, which is what you are trying to avoid. As far as past clients, you can always send out a marketing letter/card to your former (referring) clients that your business has now changed names and refer them to your new site. You can send them new business cards to have (instead of old ones they may be holding on to). Keep your old blog or website up for awhile and link it to your new one/s.

Good luck and Congrats!!

Yes.

(and brevity is an inorganic skill for me...)

Thanks to each of you who responded and offered suggestions! I sincerely appreciate it. I will, indeed, be changing the name, branding etc. VERY excited about it! Man oh man...lots of work to do!

or you could just keep your maiden name personally and professionally? I didn't see that mentioned here as an option so I wanted to throw that out there...