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n30_mkii

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I'm currently developing my photography portfolio, and I'm now looking for a proffesional domain name. Rather than my current random one.

As I mentioned it will be for displaying photography mainly.

I'm looking for a domain using my name.

Which would be better?

www.FirstnameSurnamePhotography.co.uk
www.Firstname-SurnamePhotography.co.uk
photography.FirstnameSurname.co.uk
photography.Firstname-Surname.co.uk

I'm leaning towards using a subdomain i.e. photography.name.co.uk

Which might give a little more scope for other subdomains.

But the questions is which would be more professional?
 
The shorter, the better.
 
Either of your first options would be fine, the sub domain will look like a hobbyist - nothing wrong with that in itself but if you want to look professional then it's not a good idea.
 
So either

www.FirstnameSurnamePhotography.co.uk
or
photography.FirstnameSurname.co.uk

Obviously the first is more proffesional?

the second gives a little more scope for other subdomains.

What other domain names could I go for? Any other proffesional names?

My name is Matthew J. Ward by the way.

Maybe some working with initials?
 
you have to be able to easy pronounce a domain name, using initials is open to missinterpretation when saying/hearing the domain.. you have to keep it short to remember. using a dash is hard to explain over the phone for example.

shame your name isnt alan :)
 
Given the cost of domains, if you're running a viable business I'm sure you'll be able to afford other domains dedicated to particular activities you might be involved in. Plus, who would be doing your hosting where you're allowed to reference sub domains?

Go for something along the lines of MJWardPhotography, MJWPhotography, or even WardPhotography if it's available. As people have been pointing out, shorter the better. You could just do what I did and go FirstnameSurname.com or .co.uk if it's around....
 
I agree with KIPAX, don't hyphenate.

I choose domain names that I could tell someone in a crowded bar with loud music, and theyd understand me.

Try explaining suchand such, hypen, dash, dot etc.

The easier it is to remember, the better.
 
i would go for matthewward.co.uk
appears to still be available

also available
matthewwardphotography.co.uk
mjwardphotography.co.uk
mjwphotography.co.uk
wardphotos.co.uk

and i would go for a .com domain ahead of a .co.uk if you can
 
I think that www.matthewward.co.uk is going to be the best bet, and leads to other possibilities. I won't be making any money to start with but maybe in the future. The .com has already gone.

I think matthewwardphotography is getting to be a little too long?

TBH i don't mind it being the main theme of matthewward.co.uk

I could always do lots with that
 
Ok so if I get a domain with say 123reg can I then forward it to my current hosting? As a parked domain or addon domain? Will all email then be forwarded there so I wouldn't have to sign up for pop accounts with 123?
 
You just need to thank your lucky stars you don't have the same name as a current pro :bang:

Makes even thinking about a website a pain
 
If you are wanting to be professional make sure you have hosting based in the UK so you stand a better chance on google and get one that has PHP scripting and SQL databases so that you can run proper web galleries like Gallery2 (it has as a PayPal online sales option).

Take a look at www.heartinternet.co.uk for domains and hosting - I use them and am very happy with them.

You can even have free hosting with them until you want the advanced stuff.
 
n30_mkii said:
Ok so if I get a domain with say 123reg can I then forward it to my current hosting? As a parked domain or addon domain? Will all email then be forwarded there so I wouldn't have to sign up for pop accounts with 123?
Click to expand...

Yes you can set the name servers in 123 reg to point directly to your host
 
SimonTALM said:
If you are wanting to be professional make sure you have hosting based in the UK so you stand a better chance on google .
Click to expand...


I would host US .. a lot cheaper and it hasn't hurt me for google.. top 5 all the time for "sports photography"
 
Already have hosting with PHP and MYSQL etc. Thanks though, it is in America
 
n30_mkii said:
I think that www.matthewward.co.uk is going to be the best bet, and leads to other possibilities. I won't be making any money to start with but maybe in the future. The .com has already gone.

I think matthewwardphotography is getting to be a little too long?

TBH i don't mind it being the main theme of matthewward.co.uk

I could always do lots with that
Click to expand...

Go with mattward instead :thumbs:
 
I prefer matthewward.co.uk to mattward.co.uk personally.

Thanks for all your suggestions everyone. The domain name has been purchased.
 
n30_mkii said:
I prefer matthewward.co.uk to mattward.co.uk personally.

Thanks for all your suggestions everyone. The domain name has been purchased.
Click to expand...

Hope to see your website soon on TPF :thumbs:
 
n30_mkii said:
I prefer matthewward.co.uk to mattward.co.uk personally.

Thanks for all your suggestions everyone. The domain name has been purchased.
Click to expand...


Well done and good luck! :thumbs:
 
I think you made the right choice. I don't think the word 'photography' is really necessary in the domain name. As a side note, I also think hyphens are usually a bad idea.
 
Ian T said:
I think you made the right choice. I don't think the word 'photography' is really necessary in the domain name. As a side note, I also think hyphens are usually a bad idea.
Click to expand...

:agree:
 
Yep, short is good. I've had surname.org for the last 12 years.

I dont use it for anything other than email but at least I have it.
 
when i looked for a site i thought photographybysw (my initials) would be slightly to long so i opted for imagesbysw which means its shorter. people say shorter the better so somthing worth thinking about
 
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