Very interesting question... Sorry to hear about the divorce.
From a purely marketing point of view, I would suggest it is best to decide on a name you think will work well with your photography and stick to it. If that be your maiden name, then you would probably want to consider whether you'd continue to use your maiden name to sell/market your photography in future if you decided to get married again down the track? If you can get your name well known, it is a big deal to change it again (think company name changes and all the marketing associated with changing a company name).
My suggestion (and it is ultimately up to you), is to use your maiden name on photography and continue to use that in future...
Funny, I thought of this one...my online store is Share's Designs (say it slow...shar...e lol)
I don't know that I'll ever remarry and even if I did, I don't think I'd change my name again. I have two degrees and a certification....the first only in my maiden name, the other two have both...if I changed it again, nothing would match :)
Oh...the agony of being a woman (tongue firmly in cheek)
Very interesting question... Sorry to hear about the divorce.
Eh, don't be. Be sorry I live in North Carolina and have to wait a year...as though the three years it took me to make up my mind weren't long enough. :)
What part of nc? I live in hickory and there are a couple others here from nc as well... alecia and karmat are also in the state...
Just outside of Fort Bragg. I work for FTCC in Fayetteville (English Prof). I think I know where Hickory is :). Maybe we ought to set up a DPChallenge NC meet?
Hi Shari,
I have been through this. More times than I care to count! My artwork, over the years, has been signed with 4 different names! I am remarried, and everything, forevermore, will be in THIS name! Changing names is the hugest hassle. If I had it to do all over again, I would definitely have changed everything to my maiden name, and STUCK WITH THAT !!
If you like your maiden name, I'd use that... If not, I'd go to the phone book and find one you like :)
I'd agree with this with one precaution...having your maiden name in "public" means your kids will have to use another secret identifier for their financial and other records. Not necessarily a big deal, but one more thing to remember.
If you want to have a business or professional identity, I'd say pick one you like and file a fictitious business name statement (usually done at your County administrative offices). You can have your own ID changed back to your maiden name that way...in California, I think you can even have your "business" name listed on your driver's license as an official alias. You'll have to check with the County (or wherever they do it where you live) to make sure you're not using someone else's business name anyway.
I'd suggest doing some legal research at the library and at Nolo Press before you finalize anything.
I'd agree with this with one precaution...having your maiden name in "public" means your kids will have to use another secret identifier for their financial and other records. Not necessarily a big deal, but one more thing to remember.
If you want to have a business or professional identity, I'd say pick one you like and file a fictitious business name statement (usually done at your County administrative offices). You can have your own ID changed back to your maiden name that way...in California, I think you can even have your "business" name listed on your driver's license as an official alias. You'll have to check with the County (or wherever they do it where you live) to make sure you're not using someone else's business name anyway.
I'd suggest doing some legal research at the library and at Nolo Press before you finalize anything.
Actually, one of the great blessings of my failed marriage is that we didn't have children, so that isn't a problem at all.
In North Carolina, you only have to file a ficticious (business) name if you are incorporated and make a certain amount of money. It costs $8.
