Choosing Photography Business Names

Choosing a Name for Your New Photography Business

Starting a business has many challenges, but everything becomes easier once you go through the first stages. A photography business is no different. One major challenge new entrepreneurs face is choosing a photography business name. Any brand needs an identity for people to associate with and refer to when talking about the brand.

In photography, a name is essential because it creates the first impression on your clients. If your business has a bad reputation, potential clients won’t look at your business long enough to see the quality of work you do. A good name is like a doorway to your business. If the doorway is clean, straightforward, and attractive, everyone is eager to know what is inside.

Sometimes, people dodge the naming business and go straight to take incredible photos to sell their brand. In such cases, the photographers often associate the company with themselves. For example, people will say, “Sheilla is a skilled photographer. She captured my wedding, and I loved her work.” That could work, but it is important to separate your business from yourself.

Presenting your business as an independent entity allows your clients to interact with you as a professional and not as a friend or any other relationship you have with them. It is possible to hate someone but love their brand. If the photographer is also the brand, some people might find it uncomfortable to work with you. Also, it could challenge even for you to separate personal life from professional life.

Having a brand name clients can use to refer their friends or check out your work gives your business a professional look and legitimacy. How do you come up with the best photography name ideas? Don’t worry. We are here today to help you get started on that photography business with an illustrious name.

Qualities of a Good Name for Your Photography Business

1. Choose a Short and Memorable Name Over Long and Complex

Short names are memorable and easy to pronounce. If you want to stand out in the photography industry, you need to have people referring to your business by name. A long name might be unforgettable, but people will only remember it as a long name and not the name itself. Referrals will sound something like, “I can’t remember the name, but it was a long one with an ‘E’ somewhere.”

That is such a vague referral because there could be thousands if not millions of photography businesses with an ‘E’ somewhere on the name. You end up missing out on clients, not because your work is substandard but because they cannot find or remember your business name. Always keep it simple and memorable for clients to remember.

2. Your Name Looks Good and Sounds Good
The goal for you as a business person is to leave a mark on people’s minds. People rely on many things to trigger a memory. Some of the most powerful senses are sight and hearing. Most people won’t forget something they heard and liked. Similarly, if you see something beautiful, you carry that memory with you for longer than if it was not eye-catchy.

A photographer can capitalize on that by creating a name that looks great on business cards and billboards because people rarely forget something they see and like— having a name that sounds good will work well for your business. A catchy and easy-to-pronounce name will linger in people’s minds even when they are not looking for photographers. Choose a name that sounds as good as it looks.

3. Timeless Photography Names Over Trendy
It is tempting to base your photography business name on the current trends in the industry. However, trends are things that keep changing. If you name your business based on a trend that gets phased out in a year, your business will no longer appeal to clients looking for the newest trend. Try to go with names that stand the test of time.

A trendy photography name might give you a lot of business while the trend is still hot, but once another trend overtakes it, your services will be deemed irrelevant or dated. Always leave room for growth by choosing names that don’t limit you to a specific service or period.

4. Names that Appeal to Your Target Audience
How well you understand your target audience determines how well your business will do. It helps to have a name that speaks directly to your clients. If you plan on doing wedding photography, choose a name that appeals to the brides and the grooms. A name related to a specific niche also makes it easy for you to get new clients from search engines.

If a client wants to hire a food photographer and they have no referrals, the best thing to do is search for food photographers on the internet. If your business name is not tailored to the industry you represent, chances are you will miss out on that client. People trust services from photographers with a specific field of interest because they believe their work and skills are detailed.

5. Distinctive Photography Business Names
Every market is flooded with people offering the same services or goods. The best way to get ahead of your competition is to do something different. That could start with something as simple as a name. A name that distinguishes you from other photographers is not only memorable but also unique. Having a unique name ensures people do not confuse your business with another similar business.

If your work is impeccable, all glory and money will be coming to your business and not other businesses which are mistaken to be your business. In the same light, if another photographer delivers shoddy work to a client and your business names are almost similar, your reputation could go down the drain for something you did not do.

Coming Up With Good Photography Business Names

1. Create a List of Photography Related Words
A business name must always be meaningful to you and your clients. If you are a photographer, you want a name that communicates what you do to anyone who comes across it. Therefore, the first task towards getting that unique and catchy business name is making a list of words related to your industry. Here, photography-related words like “focus,” “shutter,” and “image” are an excellent place to start.

You can take it a notch higher by listing words related to the type of photography you do. For example, if you are a food photographer, words like “bake,” “grill,” “marinade,” and “chops” could be on your list of ideas. Try different words to see which one sounds better, combine different ones, and see how they look. The more the ideas, the better the chance of picking the best possible name.

2. List Down Relatable Adjectives
A name that has an adjective on it describes the business for clients. Descriptive words will explain the feeling of working with your business. Promising a spectacular experience in your name gives your clients something to expect. Think about how you want your clients to feel when you deliver your services and put that feeling into a word.
Some of the best descriptive words to use are those that relate to your business type. In a food photography business, descriptive words like “tasty”, “flavorful”, and “tender” could make your business very appealing. Describe the experience or feeling that people should associate with your work. Everyone wants a memorable experience or a bold portrait.

3. Use a Business Name Generator
If all your photography name ideas are not working, you can try your luck with a business name generator. A good business name generator could have ideas that you did not have. You can decide to let the name generator suggest a name to use or just use the suggestions to get ideas. Whichever choice you make, the task of choosing a good business name will be lighter for you.

There are many automated business name generators online that you can use if you get stuck. Type in your business type and let the generator do the magic. Sometimes you find that the names you had in mind were better than the suggestions you get. A business name generator can solve your problem by giving you a name or giving you the confidence to work it out.

Final Thoughts on Choosing Your Business Name

Picking the right photography business name for your business can be exhausting, but it is crucial in making your photography business work. The vital part in the process is identifying your focus in the industry to select a name that communicates it to your target audience. You can always ask for suggestions from your friends and family or your social media community.

Small photography businesses that intend to remain that way can use the photographer’s name as the business name. Pick your first and/or last name and use it together with a photography-related word. The downside of using your name for the business is that clients will always expect you to deliver the services personally. If you always want to be hands-on, your name could make a good brand for your photography business.

Photography business ideas are simple to come by when you have pointers like those we gave you today. Involve the people in your life to see what they think of your ideas and chip in with better suggestions. However, do not beat yourself up over a business name. If you cannot come up with anything, get the business name generator to do it for you.

- Clare