I think I've asked this before but...

“I think I asked this question a long time ago but it wasn't a pressing issue then, and now it is. I need to know by tomorrow a.m.! I can't decide! I was recently contacted by a national magazine to use one of my images. I am very humbled by the experience and it is going to give me some exposure (and I wasn't even seeking exposure yet, I was still "gearing up", aka procrastinating), but now the issue is forced upon me. On the bio write up they want to know if I want to be "Buck Forester" or "Brian Ernst". It's a wilderness/adventure related magazine. Big. There's no turning back. Once and for all, do I go with my real name of Brian Ernst or my wildman persona, Buck Forester? I'm not doing this for any attention, I swear, I really seriously cannot decide!”

“Buck Forester has a BIG flare...my vote is for da Buck.”

“definately Buck Forester! Its a very catchy name, and people will remember it well.”

“A quick check of a couple search engines shows you the sole user of the Buck monicker but Brian Ernst has a couple of other people showing up ... I'd go with the Buck pseudonym, it's cool and appears to be unique.”

“Buck Forester all the way baby!”

“I love the name Buck Forester. It just sounds...well, strong, macho and HOT. But honestly, it sounds made up. I mean, tt'rs know it is made up, but new readers will attach that name to your pics and wonder why you picked an obvious outdoorsy moniker. It's just a little cheesy, which is great for TT but maybe not the real world. I think it would take away from your really great work. Use your real name; it's a good one.”

“Combine them: Brian Forester



Better yet: Brian "Buck" Forester,
last edited: 11/10/05 6:36:11 PM”

“I vote for Buck Forester. When said with authority and the right inflection, it sounds like you wear capes.
last edited: 11/10/05 6:36:59 PM”

“you can mention your real name *AND* TT in a brief bio.”

“Never know what will happen down the road, this could end up being your career & you will make gazillions of $$. Therefore, start out honest & use your real name, that way you'll get the appropriate credit from here on out, and, you'll be seen as more credible.

My $.02.”

“It'll be easier to cash check made out to Brian.”

“Lots of extremely successful people have used pseudo names with their work.

i.e. Mark Twain, Anne Rice,

use Buck Forester, just make sure the checks are made payable to Brian.”

“I like Brian Ernst. That way when you are Really Rich and famous, we can say "Oh, you mean "Buck" why yes,I know him, we go way back. Also, "Is that an Ernst?" sounds much more exclusive than a "Buck"”

“Are you related to Gary Ernst?

I say go with your real name. Buck is fun here, but you never intended for it to be your career name.

My trailname and real name are both "Phil". I didn't want to face these kinds of dilemmas and all this stress.”

“I'll let you use "Pantscandy" for 3% of your take.”

“I think if you want the wilderness rags, be Buck. If you want the $$$ from the yuppie or refined stuff, be Brian. Think you'd do better with Brian in the galleries too.

There's also the issue of copyright. Buck isn't a legal name & could Brian take someone to court who stole one of your images? Might be a question for a lawyer in your state.”

“Gracias, people! All your suggestions are being noted.

As for the legal stuff, if I went with Buck Forester I would obviously get the name legally registered as an aka so there wouldn't be issues with checks or copyright or anything.

catskhiker®, I'm curious as to why you think Brian Ernst would be a better gallery name than Buck Forester? To me (and I could be wrong) Buck Forester has a wilderness ring to it (maybe a little cheesy), is a more memorable name in terms of seeing it twice and recognizing it (I'm thinking marketing/prints/book author/etc.), it would be sort of like my Eddie Bauer name, or Indiana Jones, or Art Wolfe or Ansel Adams, they all have a ring to it, rather than Brian Ernst. But I really don't know! ARGH!

I was looking at other pseudo names people have used... here's a list I came up with. Perhaps you've heard of some of these? :^D

Mark Twain, Dr. Suess, Anne Landers, George Orwell, Lemony Snicket, Tim Allen, Woody Allen, Julie Andrews, Adam Ant, Fred Astaire, Frankie Avalon, Lucille Ball, Pat Benatar, Buddy Holly, Tom Berenger, The Big Bopper, Robert Blake, Billy The Kid, Jon Bon Jovi, Bono, David Bowie, Charles Bronson, Mel Brooks, Yul Brynner, Buffalo Bill, George Burns, Richard Burton, Red Buttons, Nicolas Cage, Michael Caine, Butch C@ssidy, Jackie Chan, Chevy Chase, Chubby Checker, Cher, Eric Clapton, Patsy Cline, Nat King Cole, Alice Cooper, David Copperfield, Elvis Costello, Joan Crawford, Bing Crosby, Christopher Cross, Tony Curtis, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Danson, Tony Danza, Doris Day, James Dean, JOHN DENVER, Danny DeVito, Bo Derek, Angie Dickinson, Bo Diddly, Kirk Douglas, Bob Dylan, Sheena Easton, Carmen Electra, Morgan Fairchild, Sally Field, Redd Foxx, Andy Garcia, Ava Gardner, Judy Garland, James Garner, Whoopi Goldberg, Elliott Gould, Peter Graves, Buddy Hacket, M.C. Hammer, Charlton Heston, Hulk Hogan, Billie Holiday, Rock Hudson, Harry Houdini, Bob Hope, Harry Houdini, Engelbert Humperdinck, Billy Idol, Wolfman Jack, Elton John, Boris Karloff, Diane Keaton, Michael Keaton, Carole King, Larry King, Ben Kingsley, Calvin Klein, Evel Knievel, Cheryl Ladd, Burt Lancaster, Frankie Laine, Michael Landon, Jessica Lange, Ralph Lauren, Bruce Lee, Huey Lewis, Jerry Lewis, Liberace, Sophia Loren, Courtney Love, Lorette Lynn, Andie Macdowell, Lee Majors, George Michael, Marilyn Monroe, Demi Moore, Billy Ocean, Buster Poindexter, Tony Randall, Anne Rice, Joan Rivers, Sugar Ray Robinson, Ginger Rogers, Roy Rogers, Mickey Rooney, Axl Rose, Meg Ryan, Winona Ryder, Susan Sarandon, Jane Seymour, Charlie Sheen, Martin Sheen, Gene Simmons, Christian Slater, Suzanne Somers, Ringo Starr, Cat Stevens, Randy Travis, Ritchie Valens, Muddy Waters, John Wayne, Vanna White, Gene Wilder, Stevie Wonder, etc., etc.”

“Did I see a Carmen Electra in there? OooOOo lah lah.”

“Buck Forester!!! lots of famous people have pseudos.

AND most importantly: "Ernst" means "serious"...and dear Buck...serious you are NOT!”

“"Wolf Blitzer"

Seriously, think about it. It's hard to take a CNN reporter seriously with that silly name.

You don't want to ruin your great photography with a phony name.”

“Use your real name. Don't you want the recognition? Wouldn't it be sweet?

Also, this might be interesting. There is a Tim Ernst who photographs and also writes books on Arkansas hiking. People may ask.....”

“People are MUCH more likely to remember Buck, just because it is a bit more unusual. And yes, lots of really famous people do not use their real names and make a ton of moola with it. You just have to ask yourself though if you are ready for people to know you as Buck or Brian, cause if you get rich and famous, they will only know you by one...”

“Just think of the puns & jokes...

"Hell, I wouldn't pay a buck for that photo".

"Hey Buck, how many bucks for that one?"

"Hey buddy, you got any pictures of women "buck" naked?"
last edited: 11/11/05 12:11:22 AM”

“Hi Buck

Im trying to visualize if I were to go into a gallery and look at all your photos on the wall or in a magazine or book..I am seeing your real name Brian Ernst on your photos more so than Buck Forrester. ..Do not get me wrong I love Buck Forrester too..but I really like the sound of your real name too..and how it looks too...a little like Cedric Wright kind of ring to it or Philip Hyde.
Thats great your work is being recognized :) you really deserve it
How are Heidi & Sierra :)
Ha Im listening to Muddy Waters right now
I wish you the best of luck with all this”

“Buck Forester has that same ring to it as Forest Gump.

Imagine yourself at your fine art gallery and introducing yourself:

"Hello. My name is Buck, Buck Forester. People call me Buck Forester."
last edited: 11/11/05 12:32:27 AM”

“OK, I go into a Gallery and see names like Ansel Adams, Galen Rowell, Vern Clevenger, and Michael Hanson...I think Brian Ernst fits in pretty good and has a ring to it!”

“i don't even know you, but you'll always be Buck to me. one day i'll see a see a photo and i'll say....that looks like Bucks' work!”

“Brian Ernst says you're a serious photographer.”

“buck”

“I still say Brian "Buck" Forester.”

“I like Brian Ernst.”

“As an artist, I think you should use your real name....I don't find it "stuffy" at all. Pseudo names are okay, but if you're doing serious work, I don't think they are needed.

You don't want to create a "personna" that people expect, only to have to re-create yourself as a person later... Give credit where it's due! :-)”

“I'm so glad we could clear this up for you.”

“Tim Ernst is an established outdoor photographer and author. You might want to go with Buck.”

“You can use my name for 10% of the take.”

“Buck Forester does sounds like a kids' cartoon character. Go with your real name.”

“If you stick with it, your images can only go up in value. Like Ansel Adams. I can't see wealthy patron telling everyone in her circle about this print by "BUCK". I could see her/him (but prob more her) talking about brian. It's just a feeling. My father was a big wig in Advertising. My sister-in-law does interior design for big name clients & Corporations. She's always traveling to Indonesia & Tokyo. Lives in Hawaii.

Your pics are very good. Some day once your NAME is established, they could fetch mega bucks. For the major mega bucks, I think you would do better with Brian.

You could do BOTH. Buck for the Corporate lobbies & Brian for the finer side.”

“Pseudonyms are fun, Buck! Go with yours! I've had several for radio gig purposes...”

“wow, that is awesome! What an exciting prospect. Congratulations!

Personally, I would go with Buck because it immediately creates the outdoorsy visual and people will associate the name with your flair. I think you've already covered your bases by registering the name too.

Once you've gotten established, both names will be known (as with other people who started out with pseudonyms).
Good luck!
:)”

“Flip a coin.”

“Whatever you do, don't choose the name based on what you think some hoity toity person would take a hankering to. Then you're not being yourself anymore, and instead you are being what you think some person (who probably knows labels better than they know themself) might want you to be.

Mark Twain is a good example. He chose a name that was just a phrase used by the boat people. He didn't choose it for what some society person might think of it. He chose it because he liked it and it was what he identified himself with. And that choice certainly didn't hurt him at all. Samual Clemons=nice, solid, safe name. Mark Twain=blue collar phrase.”

“Buck you do what you want. Our opinion don't mean squat. Since it don't, here's mine.

Buck Forrester, not Buck Forester. Definitely NOT Brian Ernst, and here's a good reason why. Ever hear of Tim Ernst -- a well known outdoors expert, photographer, and Arkansas legend?

http://www.timernst.com/

Unless you want to live in Tim's shadow, I'd definitely go with "Buck Forester", however you choose to spell it, and whether you bring Brian "Buck" Forester into it.

Both are better than Brian Ernst in my opinion -- but like I said, Buck you do what you want. Our opinion don't mean squat.



Sorry, bacpac -- I just NOW saw you already posted it:
Tim Ernst is an established outdoor photographer and author. You might want to go with Buck.
bacpac
6:57:45 AM
11/11/05

Lizs too apparently. Sorries.
Also, this might be interesting. There is a Tim Ernst who photographs and also writes books on Arkansas hiking. People may ask.....
lizs
11:29:48 PM
11/10/05
last edited: 11/11/05 9:06:15 AM”

“I say use "Ansel Adams." Tell people it's just an amazing coincidence that you happen to have the same name as the famous photographer.




Seriously, use your real name. I hate it when people use "stage" names - it seems pompous, as if you're worried people will hound you because you're so wonderful and you need to hide from them.”

“Do what Lauri says.”

“"Buck forester" sounds like a lame-ass name given to a character in a cheap pulp-western novel.

Sounds a little left footed, too, come to think of it.”

“Just go with "œ", formerly known as Brian.”

“a lot of people use "stage" names cause their real name sucks or is too common...you're lucky, you have a cool/unique name...i'd say either one would be good”

“Or change your first name to Tim and sue the heck out that dude from Arkansas.

There's no such thing as bad publicity.”

“Seriously? I'd probably go with your real name. If you ever write a book of goofy adventures, Buck Forester® would be great, but stick with Brian for this.”

“I use my real name, not a pseudonym.”