How To Chose Your Photography Company Name 

Let me know what you call your photography business below, and why?

Some of the best advice I got in my photography business was to scrap the business name and go with my real name. At the time, I had just paid a graphic designer to design my logo. But I'm so glad I changed. I believe it is what's helped me grow this past couple of years. Now, people on Facebook know I do photography. Before, they were like oh I didn't realize that was you. I've been stopped at gas stations and other stores telling me how much they like my work since I switched to my name. To me with doing portrait work and landscape work, it's more personal that way as well. I also have two separate Facebook and Instagram pages. One for portrait work and weddings and the other one for landscapes. I believe it has helped me as well. The website looks much cleaner with my name instead of having someone create a logo for me. It looks a whole lot more professional. That's just what has helped me.

Got it! So I'm changing my legal name to "Snap Pixels" then?

Very straightforward sensible advice, thank you, Scott.

Once again, clear straight advice.

Every time you post a new video, i am shocked of how useful and relevant it is. Absolutely love it

This is the video I've needed. My photography business is my name here, but people outside of the Ozarks don't know what it means and think it's my name. My wife keeps telling me using my name doesn't have a catch to it, so I never used it 😂 but all week I've been thinking of how to rename and rebrand for the future.

Great advice. I've started binge watching the channel, as it's rare to find someone on RU-vid who makes coherent sense!

This video has given me so much direction in life 👏 you’ve made everything so much clearer in terms of how to structure the business unlike any other content I’ve seen

I was overthinking this waaay too much and trying to be creative with the name. Thank you! I needed some clarity and guidance.

appreciated your video, that totally gave me the direction.

Thank you, such good advice.

APPRECIATE THIS 🙏🏽

This is really good advice. I've recently started a photography business under the name 'Aesthetic Dimensions' I thought it's a pretty neat name as my niche is product/still life and wanted to be original but I've noticed most professionals just go by their full name. I feel like whenever I've reached out to companies to offer my service they've assumed I'm more than just a photographer. I suppose lucky for me my renewal period is coming up soon. I don't exactly have aspirations to turn it into a company with multiple people either.

thanks, video really helped me start up

This was very helpful - to get an industry viewpoint, and for me, this is timely. Because I have gone by my name for years, but because I've not aggressively pursued photography as a career I've never really focused on one area photography. But I am currently creating a studio space in my house that I intend to use for portrait work (mum and baby type stuff) and I WAS going to call it "My House Name Studio" to seperate it from my more generic long standing mix of work under my name. But on reflection, I might just stick with what I have. Not really sure now what to do because your advice seems compelling.

Thanks so much for making this video I've always wondered how photographers come up with their names and I notice most usually use their full name. And the way you explained it makes complete sense, clients are hiring a person and not a company so it would make sense to use your name. Do you also purchase property like your studio under the Tin House Studio LLC or as a sole proprietor? Again thanks for making this video.

Thank you so much for your Channel. I learned so much allready.

This is great advice! I have been stumped trying to separate my Architecture Photography from a new Real Estate Multimedia company I started. This reinforced my idea, thanks!

This was extremely helpful, thank you! One question though, when naming your business after yourself- what if your last name is really long and hard to pronounce?

Thanks Scott, very usefull information. Though I missed for you to mention something about what if your name sounds dull or isn't catchy? Or what if someone has it already? I know you haven't experienced it yourself, but maybe you know someone as a refference to speak about

Wonderful insight Somehow I managed to land in between, it’s my name and nickname, and the logo is my name spelled in Japanese.... Funny enough last week by chance I met an old customer of mine, did a job 6-7 years ago, we were with a common friend, she instantly recognised the logo on my T-shirt, then associated the face with the logo. I suppose this kind of proves your theory and confirms that I an the middle.

How about if I'm in two lines of job i.e. Medical Doctor and Photographer, won't using my name be confusing for people who know me as just one of these professions? This is what is giving me pause.

This is great advice! What if you’re doing both photography & videography and want to incorporate both services into your name?

hahaha ohh man... I have Parable Media which I have facing corporate clients as a website and email domain, and then my social channels, all under Shane Foley Media - focusing on my private wedding clients. I one day hope to have a team. I'd hate to change it, honestly, but I definitely know after this that I will retain my social channels as is, rather than change them to Parable Media. It gives me a lot to consider though, as I almost always see people and their names.

Another great video Scott, always love how upfront and honest you are. My name is Mark Brown and clearly any hope of a domain name will have been long taken. So I am thinking to incorporate 'London' where I conduct most of my work. Do you have any thoughts on this approach please? Or should I be looking at other options (middle names etc.) All input greatly appreciated

You always provide such valuable content. You're almost like the 'Human Search Engine' for commercial photographers. I put in a question and boom you have a video for the most sought-after topics. Appreciate all the effort and time you put in to share your knowledge Scott!

what about people with very basic names that it seems everyone has from first to last?

I’ve been struggling with this. I started a real estate photography company with the name River City Stills, one because it’s kind of small town and I was a bit of lush for a decade, and because I feel like with only a small amount of work to show, this sounds more established, and generic because there’s a ton of “River city X” around here. I still have my named photography socials, but figured at my current size I’d rather appear more bigger and established and niched with the option to add people, and one day when I have a larger body of work, switch back to my name when working with bigger clients and such.

Thank you, makes a lot of sense. Except it does help to have an unusual name. Mine is so boring..

Working on my own site and I am struggling with this exact question at this very moment! Also, name in English or in my case Dutch. This is not a live video right? just a premiere. I have a candidate name, but I do not want to exclude the possibility for other kind of creative work. Video, design etc. So is it better to have a general name, or just have multiple names e.g. bla photography and bla videography/ studio or something like lensman or studio/ productions company bla

I understand your reasoning, but: A, What if my name is John Ford, or some really-really common name? B, What if my name is Nádőszhéky Károly? Even with your name...tbh, I remember Scott, and some last name starting with C. It is cool and unique, but hard for foreigners to pronounce it, and remember it (although if they remember it, they'll likely never forget). I'm currently in the beggining of starting a pro photography carreer and went with the 'ex momentis' name, because: 1, it's latin (means from the moments), most of the people can pronounce and remember it well 2, I'm a photog currently, but might wanna venture into video too, and in the future I could make it a company and pull other people into it (additional photogs, videographers, sort of a creative agency or something). I might not do any of that, but the name doesn't limit me 3, My real name is Erdős Dániel in my country (Dániel Erdős if we go with the first and last name order). I'm Hungarian but will shoot english and spanish speaking clients. I could translate my name (Daniel Forester, or Daniel del Bosque probably), or just leave out the weird stuff (Daniel Erdos) and I might do that, but that sort of feels weird now. But based on your video, I'm contemplating it :)

What if your name is generic and a photographer already shares your name

I don’t deny this is good advice the problem I’m having is in that I have a pretty common name at least here in the states and every form of my name I’ve tried as a website is already registered. Is having everything under my name but the url/business name being shotbytherobot going to hinder me in the commercial space?

Just re-watched this. Two take-aways. This video reminds me of law firms, which always use their name. The partners, usually. They are the ones standing up in court speaking for you. Second, I think you might sell yourself short re: Tin House. I think your personality comes through the camera. I din’t think ‘anyone’ can do this. Maybe somebody else can do something similar, but not *this*.

Does this apply to a videography as well? I will be doing wedding films and other client work but mostly weddings to start.

I live in an asian country in South East Asia. The majority of the people here are Chinese (70%). Racism exists here and if had used my real name, they would have dropped me immediately without looking at my portfolio. Hence, i use an English name and there times where I can here they speak in their language, "we didn't expect this "minority race" guy to be the owner/photographer of this studio..." Been like this ever since I was born here. The good news is that the younger population is less racist compared to the older folks. Greatly and largely thanks to the govt efforts to integrate the races.

I agree with everything you say in this. However, when I started my business there was another guy with the same name (Dan Browning) who already established his website and had good SEO. I decided to come up with another name. I'm still not sure it was the way to go. I keep hoping the other guy will retire and I can rebrand.

I'm having a conundrum similar to this at the moment as well, I have a corporate photography business and a commercial photography business site as well and I don't want to tarnish my commercial side with another business with the same name, ie, I'm thinking of giving the corporate work a company name and the commercial side my own name, any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

Great Advice , I hope this will at least cover a coffee,☕

What if I only want to be a family photographer, not an awesome exclusive creative on sets etc.. my legal name is not my married name because it is a bother to change it. No one else had my legal name but im worried that it wont be able to be spelled correctly, and I kindof like being more anonymous.. my married name is already used by a photographer in the UK so I dont legally think I can use that name ? This is why im considering using a pseudonym

Are you aware of any instances that you've missed out on a great job because they've known of your RU-vid channel?

This was SO helpful, thank you!! I do have one question- if I’m planning on offering product photography and stop motion services, should I still just call myself “Amy Andress Photography”? Or can I go with “Amy Andress Creative Media”?

In my case everyone knows me with my nickname. Is it ok to use a nickname instead of the real name as a photographer?

What if my name is Scott Choucino as well?

If there is someone famous with my name Eg "Brad Pitt, or David Bailey" Would you recommend using your middle names? eg, David Michael James Bailey.. = Michael James... or would you stick with David Bailey?

But wouldn't a creative name help you to stand out IF you have a very common name? Because if I was to use my first name, I would be just part of the crowd and finding my work would be kinda hard for clients to find

Do you believe this applies to video production businesses as well? Should the name of a video production business simply be the name of the owner?

Makes sense, however I don't understand why having a RU-vid space is frowned upon. Is it just stiff upper lip?

I am trying to find a name for my photography business - I am just starting out (though photography has been a joyful passion and hobby for a while now). My name is a very common one, though - Cristian Rodriguez. And my full name is really long (Cristian Josue Rodriguez-Marchan). How do you recommend I choose my photography business name ?

LOL, I thought I was the only one that uses 2 names one for RU-vid & when I am working I only go by me name.

My name is Jesus Martinez, it is a very common name. What can I do? Just find a working domain? use my middle name ernesto, add my second last name?

3:40

Wise information, I’d it safer to not use your real name,?

For guaranteed customers, I am naming my company "Click Bait".

Anything but the real name of the photographer is rather tacky IMO.