You mention its a part time business while you get through school. Will you be keeping this and going full time after school? Is this a long term goal for you?

If not, I would keep it simple and go with your name. Its easy to do and easy to brand in a variety of ways while you work at it part time.

If you want this to be full time from this point forward, then it depends on your goals. Do you want to add other photographers down the road? Or are you going to be the creative artist all the way through? If its you, I would brand your name with it. If you want to grow it into something more, look towards a more brandable name.

I know you have several thoughts listed here – are the domain names available? That’s always my first check when I come up with a name. If not, choose again. You don’t want someone hearing your name – Flashbacks Photography – and typing it in only to find another studio.

Good luck
Lori

Any that you like and would pick if it were your own business name??
Farrah Walton

I think you said a lot in your paragraph – you love the idea of Dance in the name but you may want to change and do other types of photography in the future. I would say start there. Really take a look at your goals and where you want to be in 5 to 10. Dance is one “sport” but how about ice skating? Or gymnastics? There are many ways to branch out from there and yet stick with a “sports” theme. Then you could make you name closer to the movement concept and do very well.

But if you can see yourself doing babies or weddings or commercial work in the future, a more generic name would probably suit you best.

One other thought – you could build up “dance photography” to a large dollar amount by being very specific and niched. Then in the future if you decide to do something else, you could always sell that business and start over with your name – or a new niche.

So to answer your question, a lot of it boils down to soul searching and really looking 5 to 10 years in the future to decide what you want.

Lori

I would go with one of your names – either Sophie or Ruth – and that would be totally optional to you. I know you’re in child photography now, but if you decide to change at some point in the future, it would be as simple as changing the look of your logo, not your entire name. I do like the concept of the “kangaroo” and that could be a fun branding technique. Just make sure its well transferable in case you do more to the UK.

Lori

ShortAndSnappy – Up until now I’ve been using this (for Deviant Art, etc..) – I think this is really fun and cute (and I’m a shot photographer), but I suspect very common.
Sophie Andrews Photography – My name, but I’m not sure if it really stands out.
Ruth Andrews Photography – My middle name and my surname… a little bit more unusual than ‘Sophie’ and as I’m Australian, but planning to move to the UK at some point in the future, I have an idea about marketing involving something along the lines of Ruth/Roo (kangaroo) and playing around with that a little more… not quite sure how it would be done, but I think it’s cute.

Lori