Naming your photography business is one of the most important steps to creating a unique photography brand. More so, a good photography business name is one that is unique and sells the brand precisely and by all means.
Conversely, it can be difficult to come up with a befitting name. But because it is important, you have to do it anyway.
So, if you need the perfect photography business name, we have a solution for you.
In this article, we’ll give you a step-by-step guide on how to come up with a good photography business name. Including a formula to help you become more creative, and some photography business name ideas, you can consider.
Let’s get started with the basics.
About Naming Your Photography Business
Having a business name is the first thing to consider when you want to start a business. In fact, before you come up with one, you should properly think about it and be sure it’s something that can sell your brand.
Additionally, your business name is the first thing people see before they even meet you. So, you might want to take your time and come up with something useful.
But, if you don’t know how or where to start, it’s totally fine. We’ve come up with a few questions you can ask yourself to help you streamline your thoughts into creating something worthwhile. Take a look at them below.
- What information do you want to pass across with your business name?
- How do you want your customers to react when they see your business name?
- Do you want a short or a long business name? Does the length even matter to you?
- How will your business name differentiate you from your competitor’s?
- What do you really want your business name to be like? Funny? Memorable? Contradictory? Directly explaining your products and services?
Going over these questions constantly will help you create a better business name. As a matter of fact, one that satisfies the following standard characteristics.
Characteristics Of A Good Photography Business Name
After studying the best names in photography, here are the features these names have in common that help them stand out.
#1. It’s clear and simple
It’s alright to want to get creative and come up with something mysterious that has an underlying meaning. But, hold on, breathe. Will it really sell your brand or will the name leave your customers wondering what kind of human will come up with such a name?
Let’s say you choose to use the name “Turgid Fine Art Photography”. The word “turgid” already has a strong and heavy feeling attached to it. Your intent may likely be to describe your photography skills as one that’s deeply embellished in style and language.
But your clients may not understand it this way. Moreso, nobody has the time to check what “turgid” means before working with you.
So, or else you get the chance to explain to a million people every day what you really mean by the name, I suggest you keep it clear and simple. Moreover, simply makes it memorable.
#2. Sounds better
The rule is, if it looks good, it definitely has to sound better. A name that sounds better aloud will be easier to memorize and tell people about.
Additionally, it does your marketing for you. You don’t have to struggle to make yourself heard or to explain why the name looks better on paper and is weird when said out aloud.
So, a good business name should sound better when your customers say it.
#3. Says something about your personality
The best relationships are built on mutual values and ideas. And one way to qualify for this good relationship is to make your personality clear through your business name. People like to hire those they are comfortable with or like.
So, let your business name say something about who you are. It’ll bring you the right clients.
#4. Isn’t Seasonal
Avoid naming your photography business with something that’s trending at the moment. Maybe, your intention is to make it go viral at the time, but what happens when it’s no longer trending? Will you have to think of another name?
So, let your business name be something that will stand the test of time irrespective of the trends.
#5. Direct Marketing tool
Once your business name explains your services explicitly, half of your marketing is already done. In fact, a good business name doesn’t need anything extra to sell the brand and differentiate you from our competitors.
For example, a name like “Charlottes Fine Art Photography” makes it obvious that I am a fine art photographer and I specialize in it. This differentiates me from other photographers as my clients can easily know what I stand for.
Hence, to come up with one, evaluate your target audience, business mission, and your advantage over your competitors. It’ll help you come up with a name that fits perfectly.
Going through these features will help you come up with a good name for your photography business. But if you are unable to, you can as well name it after yourself.
Naming Your Photography Business After Yourself
Although I said you should try to be creative when naming your photography business, sometimes simplicity just does it.
And what other way is there to have a simple photography business name than to name it after yourself. Now, you may say, “What if my name is confusing?” Well, shorten it if you can, use your middle name if you have to, or come up with a nickname that still has your name in it.
The whole idea is to sell your brand, and YOU are your brand. So get on with it, you’re not the first photographer to name your business after yourself, we have the likes of;
- Steve McCurry
- Sally Mann
- Alec Soth
- Stephen Shore
- David LaChapelle
All these “key players” named their photography business after themselves, and so far it’s been going great.
But if you’re still skeptical, here are a few reasons to consider naming your photography business after yourself.
#1. YOU are your brand
I can also put, “Your brand is YOU”. It’s your idea, skill, creativity, vision, ad passion that drives you to want to make a living out of it. There’s no setting each other apart.
In fact, it makes it easier for people to remember you, once they remember your name. After all, we all want to be known for what we do.
#2. You have more options
Even if you choose to specify your area of specialization, naming your photography business after yourself gives you the chance to have various options. Your name serves as the umbrella, under which your several other photography options are housed.
That way, you don’t need to think of a new name when you want to enter into another option. You can just add it to your name. Like the “Charlotte Allen Photography”.
#3. Makes your referrals easy
People don’t have to memorize two different names because they want to introduce you and your business.
You can make it easy for them when you and your business share the same name, just differentiated by “photography”. As you know, word of mouth is the strongest mode of marketing. The majority of your clients will come by what they’ve heard someone say about you.
So, you do want to keep it simple and make it easy for people to remember.
Bonus Tip: Using your name as your photography business name makes it easy for you to have a domain all to yourself. Since it’s your name, chances are that it’s specific to you. So, you can easily get a domain name, open a social media account, and get this thing running. Even the “big guys” are doing that.
How To Create The Perfect Photography Name For Your Business
Now you have a lot of options. It’s either you give the business your name or you employ your creative skills to come up with something nice.
Regardless, here is a guide on how to really do this thing (name your photography business).
#1. Think about it
All your stress will go away if you can just sit down for a second (literally) and think about the name you want your photography business to have. While thinking, you’d go through your business vision and mission to ensure that the name you come up with is something that aligns with your interest.
Also, don’t worry if you’re coming up with a lot of names. Write them all down as soon as it comes to your mind.
#2. Assess the names
You’ve been able to come up with a long list of potential names for your business after thinking. But hold on, it doesn’t just end there. You need to assess them and discover which one of them has high potential than the others.
One way to do this is to ask people. Ask your friends and family including children. Write down the names and let them give you feedback on which name they think describes your business better. Find out if they have difficulty pronouncing it, or remembering it.
#3. Check if its available
Next is to check if the name is available. See if the domain is obtainable, same with the social media handles. This is because having a website and social media account helps you showcase your work.
Additionally, it’s essential for customer bookings and inquiries. And also gives you a high level of professionalism.
Note: While choosing a domain, it’s okay if your business name .com domain name isn’t available. You can still go for local domains like yourbusinessname.us.
In fact, Google favors domains like this in local searches especially when people search for things like photographers near me. If your site is well optimized, it’d come up on search result pages.
#4. Select the best
After going through the feedback and availability of all the names, its time to choose the winner. The winner here is the name that best describes your photography business, has the highest positive feedback including being easy to pronounce and memorize, and is available (both the domain and the social media account).
However, if the name that passes all these tests isn’t the one lingering in your gut, you can as well go with what you have in mind. Besides, it’s your business and only you can see the future of the business with that name.
Also, take a break if you have to. No one is putting you under the gun to come up with a photography business name in six hours. Take your time if you have to. Often times, after a break comes more clarity.
Photography Business Name Ideas
There a lot of options to choose from when it comes to naming your photography business. But we’d give you a formula to apply in choosing the best photography business for you.
#1. Your name
Your name is the first thing to come to mind when trying to name your photography business. As I explained earlier, simplicity does it. And using your name makes it simple and perfect.
Even better, you can use your name + photography to make something really cool, just like the big guys (winks).
For example, my name is “Charlotte Allen” and since I want to name my photography business, I can go for something like “Charlotte Allen Photography”. Sounds pretty cool to me.
#2. Be specific
You can decide to be specific about your kind of photography when naming your business. For example, if you are a very good fine art photographer or a portrait photographer, you can add something like “Fine Art” or “Portrait” to your business name.
That would be something like “Charlotte Allen Portrait Photography” or “Charlotte Allen Fine Art Photography”.
This makes it easy for people to know what you really do, places you as an expert, and makes you easily come up in searches. People tend to be specific when searching for what they need online.
In addition, although this may seem to limit you, it doesn’t stop you from expanding into different photography areas.
#3. Add Locations
Good SEO practice is to add your location of practice in either your name or tagline. Remember, people tend to be more specific when searching for what they need. Including location.
#4. Be Creative
Nobody said its compulsory to name your photography business after yourself. You can as well employ your creative skills and come up with something different but unique to your brand. For example, something like Filly Studios, Diamond graphics Studios, Mosca Studios, and lots more.
Or you can read our post on Business Name Ideas to come up with something very creative.
Congratulations if you already have a photography business name. And if you don’t yet? Congratulations too for all the efforts you’ve put.
In no time, you’ll come up with that beautiful business name that’s just perfect.
So what’s next?
What to do When You Have Your Photography Business Name
As soon as you have come up with the perfect name for your photography business, it doesn’t end there. There are a lot of other things to do.
#1. Have a Business Plan
If you did not have any business plan before coming up with a business name, then you really need to get one. How else do you intend to run your business?
A good business plan helps you stay on track, and ensure you are doing only the relevant things that’ll make your business grow.
Not to worry, we got you! Click the button below to have access to our over 500 business plans for your type of business.
#2. Design a Logo
Absolutely! Having a logo to go with your business name gives you a high level of professionalism and the “this-photographer-definitely-knows-what-(s)he’s-doing” comment.
It doesn’t have to be very intense. A simple camera together with the first letter of your business name will do. Or just a camera.
And the best part is, you can totally do it yourself. Use tools like Canva or Adobe to get started. Or you can hire a graphics designer to help you out.
Get your domain, set up your website, and register your business social media accounts as soon as possible. You wouldn’t want somebody else to claim your name.
#4. Get a Business Card
Regardless of what anyone says, Business cards are still very much useful. It’s a direct marketing and networking tool that helps you to sell your brand positively.
Severally, you would get clients based on the business cards you’ve handed out to people.
So, go through this photography business card article and get started with creating your business card.
What Is a Hobbyist Photographer Called?
Instead of as a business or vocation, amateur photographers shoot pictures for their own use, as a pastime, or just for fun.
Should I Name My Photography Business After Myself?
One crucial stage is to make them see you as a photographer, and the other crucial step is to inform them of your location. In our opinion, naming your company after yourself makes things easier for those who are most inclined to recommend you.
What Is Non Professional Photography Called?
However, based on dictionary definitions, we are left with the idea that amateur photographers are those who do it for fun, whereas pros are those who do it for a living.
What Is a Shutterbug Mean?
someone who enjoys shooting pictures and does it frequently but is not a professional photographer: The course is perfect for aspiring wildlife photographers who want to learn more.
Do I Need a Logo for My Photography Business?
You know what makes good visuals as a photographer. And you might be tempted to think that you can pick the perfect logo for your company without giving it a second thought. However, logos, like the photographic industry, are a blend of both art and commerce. The brand identity of your photography business depends on your company’s logo.
Should a Photographer Have a Logo?
You must grab the interest of potential customers and use clever marketing techniques if you want to succeed in the competitive world of photography. Your target audience can receive your brand message by viewing a well-designed photographic logo.
Should Photographers Watermark Their Images?
But in reality, the majority of well-known photographers don’t employ a watermark. In fact, a distracting and shoddy watermark is one of the things that many industry experts consider to be a sign that a photographer is just getting started.
To Wrap it Up… What is Your Photography Business Name?
Naming your photography business doesn’t have to be very difficult. Go through this article and follow our step-by-step guide to creating the perfect name for your photography business.
If you already have one, I want to know. What is your photography business name? Kindly let me know in the comment section.
Good luck!
FAQs
How much does it cost to start a photography business?
Startup costs. Quality photography equipment is notoriously expensive, so you’ll want to start off with the minimum: Buying a $5,000 lens doesn’t make sense if your business isn’t making money yet. Many professional photographers say to plan on budgeting about $10,000 to start your photography business
What type of photography makes the most money?
Portrait PhotographersPortrait Photographers’ salary is typical $50,000 a year, making their job one of the highest-paid ones in photography.
Is photography a good job?
Photography is a good career if you have an excellent skill set, good creative ability, composition, and technical expertise. The photography career can be challenging and it may give you a hard time if you are not passionate about it. Good photography skills come with a lot of practice and hard work.
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