Business name?

[Kellidascope82]

I have just started into photography and would eventually like to go pro with it. I was wondering if I should sign my pictures with my name or if it would be okay to go ahead and start signing them with the name that I would call my business.

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by Kellidascope82

I have just started into photography and would eventually like to go pro with it. I was wondering if I should sign my pictures with my name or if it would be okay to go ahead and start signing them with the name that I would call my business.

Here we go again....Aren't digital cameras great? A pro is born every moment!
Here you might have to read this. provides some insight on what it takes to start a business and such.
Want to make $$$$! Educate yourself first

[candleman]

LoL Jim... legendary
there should be a sticky.. "how to be a professional for beginners"

heres answering the question..
theres a million reasons for each, but heres a few things to think about:

will you hire other people eventually?
would you want your name slighted if someone sued your business?
do you have a website, or is the domain name available?
what is your target market and what "style" of photography are you offering (High-Art studio or photojournalistic)
do you do more than one ? (real-estate AND weddings, Sport AND Portraits?)

but there are obvously alot of things to consider other than the name of the business, things such as photographic skill etc etc..

so finally answering it, its different for everyone depending on what you actually offer, how you pitch yourself and where you plan to go with it in the future.

[Jim Bryant]

Hey, I'm trying to educate them.

Well....instead of what you're going to call your business, one should gain the photographic knowledge, experience and particularly business side of photography in order to succeed in this field. Somehow, when I hear that all too often phase, "I just started in photography and want to start a business", It's just all too mind boggling to me, but then again stranger things have happened in this line of work.

Yes, there are a lot of things to think and worry about, before going into business. The most important aspect is the ability to capture good photographs to bring in clients, that's the first and foremost thing there is: taking good pictures.

[archersdad]

If you use your full name (something like John Doe Photography) you don't even need to register a fictious name in most states. Call it a hobby for your first year unless you are going to be buying some expensive equipment. If your income for your first year is over $10,000 then you will have to call it a business (yeah IRS) but you have the added benefit of deducting the cost of the equipment or at least it's depreciation.