Ken Warren Photography wrote:
I would not recommend any model use their real name on MM or any social networking site where they identify as a model, because it creates an immediate, and very easy to trace, connection between you as a model and your actual life. For instance, knowing your name and state, I can easily locate you on Facebook, which tells me the name of your boyfriend, the high school you attended, etc. An actual creepy individual could stalk you to a fare thee well...

I'm perplexed as to why "models" need to use stage names.
Yet "photographers" are encouraged to use their real names.

Ken Warren Photography wrote:
I would not recommend any model use their real name on MM or any social networking site where they identify as a model, because it creates an immediate, and very easy to trace, connection between you as a model and your actual life. For instance, knowing your name and state, I can easily locate you on Facebook, which tells me the name of your boyfriend, the high school you attended, etc. An actual creepy individual could stalk you to a fare thee well...

Carle Photography wrote:
I'm perplexed as to why "models" need to use stage names.
Yet "photographers" are encouraged to use their real names.

That is a very interesting question, which I do not understand either.  My name is certainly not "GPS."  I operate a "C-Corp" and have established a business identity.  There are companies that make their business out of helping other companies with their identity and presence.  I see nothing wrong with using an appropriate business name.

For models, however, I think there is a good rationale for using a stage name.  Indeed, for security, I would not only use a stage name, but would also consider getting a PO Box, for mail and to use on my ID.  I'd even look at maintaining a separate cell phone strictly for modeling.  Stalkers are rare, but I see no reason not to take reasonable precautions and to insulate myself from people I work with until I know them well.

GPS Studio Services wrote:
... I'd even look at maintaining a separate cell phone strictly for modeling. ...

I have two words for this part: "Google Voice". It's a terribad idea to try to hide illegal activities using Google Voice, but something like this is no problem.

As for using my real name, in the new year I will be putting the legal framework in place to allow me to separate "Ken the person" from "Ken the photographer" even though we both occupy the same skin.

GPS Studio Services wrote:

Ken Warren Photography wrote:
I would not recommend any model use their real name on MM or any social networking site where they identify as a model, because it creates an immediate, and very easy to trace, connection between you as a model and your actual life. For instance, knowing your name and state, I can easily locate you on Facebook, which tells me the name of your boyfriend, the high school you attended, etc. An actual creepy individual could stalk you to a fare thee well...

That is a very interesting question, which I do not understand either.  My name is certainly not "GPS."  I operate a "C-Corp" and have established a business identity.  There are companies that make their business out of helping other companies with their identity and presence.  I see nothing wrong with using an appropriate business name.

For models, however, I think there is a good rationale for using a stage name.  Indeed, for security, I would not only use a stage name, but would also consider getting a PO Box, for mail and to use on my ID.  I'd even look at maintaining a separate cell phone strictly for modeling.  Stalkers are rare, but I see no reason not to take reasonable precautions and to insulate myself from people I work with until I know them well.

It's been my experience that photographers using their real name tend to work with ad agencies, photographers that use a name such as the one you use, tend to shoot catalog and/or corporate and retail, while the guys that use names such as "The Epitome of Reflections In A Pool Of Self Awareness Images" tend to shoot nudes for spank bank collections. That's not always true... but close, especially that last one.

Robert Randall wrote:
It's been my experience that photographers using their real name tend to work with ad agencies, photographers that use a name such as the one you use, tend to shoot catalog and/or corporate and retail, while the guys that use names such as "The Epitome of Reflections In A Pool Of Self Awareness Images" tend to shoot nudes for spank bank collections. That's not always true... but close, especially that last one.

That made me laugh, Robert. Yes, I shoot nudes (though I don't shoot for anyone's "spank bank", nudes are about all I'm interested here on MM). I shoot more portraits than nudes, and I shoot more cosplay than portraits by probably an order of magnitude.

Marin Photography NYC wrote:
Yes, just leave off your last as a model, I wouldn't use my last name. As far as Ken's paranoid assertion, you can be found if someone wants to find you. Doesn't matter what name you use......If someone really wants to find you, you really can't do much about it......

Ken is not paranoid.  If someone really wants to find you they probably can, but there is no reason to make if easy for them.  Anyone that is concerned with personal safety should disclose as little personal information as possible on the Internet.  The creepers and crooks and identity thieves that lurk in the background certainly don't use their real names when they are online.  It's best to follow their example.

Marin Photography NYC wrote:
Yes, just leave off your last as a model, I wouldn't use my last name. As far as Ken's paranoid assertion, you can be found if someone wants to find you. Doesn't matter what name you use......If someone really wants to find you, you really can't do much about it......

Well, I don't know about "paranoid", but I do know that statistically, women are much more likely to be stalked than men. And while it's true that a little determination will take a stalker a long way, there's no need to make it easy...

T Smalls Photography wrote:
I find it interesting that I've seen a lot of models encouraged to use a stage name and to get separate numbers, yet when a model mentions "escort" people freak out.

I'm not a model, but I think it's funny/odd that a model would try to hide her identity as a model.  Especially when I've seen a lot of models use "stage names" on here, then post the same picture from here on their personal facebook page.  If someone wants to find you, google's reverse image search is a powerful tool.

Just my $.01

I don't use my real name because it's not very marketable.

P I X I E wrote:
I don't use my real name because it's not very marketable.

With a name like Ashley. Its nothing special. If not a little valley girl. So stage name would be easier for me to stand out. Like for instance i notice Pixie on the forums a lot because of her unique name.

And If i do wish to do nudes i don't want that traced back to me as easily. and security is always a huge concern.

But would i use my real name if i also work as a makeup artist?

Robert Randall wrote:
It's been my experience that photographers using their real name tend to work with ad agencies, photographers that use a name such as the one you use, tend to shoot catalog and/or corporate and retail, while the guys that use names such as "The Epitome of Reflections In A Pool Of Self Awareness Images" tend to shoot nudes for spank bank collections. That's not always true... but close, especially that last one.

I shoot nudes for OTHER peoples spank bank collections.

Ashley Brooke wrote:

With a name like Ashley. Its nothing special. If not a little valley girl. So stage name would be easier for me to stand out. Like for instance i notice Pixie on the forums a lot because of her unique name.

And If i do wish to do nudes i don't want that traced back to me as easily. and security is always a huge concern.

But would i use my real name if i also work as a makeup artist?

You can have more than one name and one account. Some models have one account for their nude work and another for their non-nude work.

Ashley Brooke wrote:

With a name like Ashley. Its nothing special. If not a little valley girl. So stage name would be easier for me to stand out. Like for instance i notice Pixie on the forums a lot because of her unique name.

And If i do wish to do nudes i don't want that traced back to me as easily. and security is always a huge concern.

But would i use my real name if i also work as a makeup artist?

My real name is French, and most people who don't speak the language can't pronounce it right. I'd just rather go with something like a nickname that a lot of people know me by already. Pixie's been my nickname for many years.

I'm not hiding my nude work anymore. My parents know about it. So do most of my friends. I'm not worried about that stuff anymore.

For your MUA account, I don't see why you couldn't use your real name. It's up to you though.

Ashley Brooke wrote:
Yes i was referring to my MUA account. Would there still be the same Security issues?

Depends what kind of work you will post there. Eventually people connect the dots and could potentially find out your identity, never forget that. But if you're gonna post conventional makeup shots, you're safe with using your real name I'd think.

Jerry Nemeth wrote:
Many models use a stage name.  They sign the release with their real name.

That's exactly what I do. I go by my Greek name professionally, but when it comes to signing releases and checks, I put my legal name and in parenthesis put Annoula.

Jerry Nemeth wrote:
Many models use a stage name.  They sign the release with their real name.

Any person I shoot with have to sign a release and show proof of identity. What's the point of a signature that's just a bogus name...


John

Ashley Brooke wrote:
Yes i was referring to my MUA account. Would there still be the same Security issues?

If someone finds out the faceless MUA is also the cute and possibly nude model...yes.

Just pick a name that sounds real, but isn't your actual name. Skip the middle name and mothers maiden name also. Just make some shit up and then be smart enough to not connect the dots back to your real name again

JohnEnger wrote:

Any person I shoot with have to sign a release and show proof of identity. What's the point of a signature that's just a bogus name...


John

The point is I trust the people I do business with (or I wouldn't do business with them). I don't have any reason to trust my umpteen thousand followers fans and "friends" on the 10+ social networking sites I'm apart of that are necessary to my job. I've never had a photographer that I've worked with threaten me or try to stalk me. Random people on the Internet? Different story. They don't need easy access to my real identity

Laura UnBound wrote:
The point is I trust the people I do business with (or I wouldn't do business with them). I don't have any reason to trust my umpteen thousand followers fans and "friends" on the 10+ social networking sites I'm apart of that are necessary to my job. I've never had a photographer that I've worked with threaten me or try to stalk me. Random people on the Internet? Different story. They don't need easy access to my real identity

This is the truth.  I have no problem signing a release for with my real details and showing my ID.  My use of a stage name is for the oddballs out there.
Lots of people in entertainment don't use their real, full name, often it's a variation of their birth name or mother's maiden name, etc, to allow for a bit of privacy (or even it sounds better).

My mother has worked in the entertainment field and had a good deal of success back in the 80s and 90s to the point that we did indeed experience stalking, and have people turn up on our doorstep (we lived in a rural area - all the more scary).  A stage name is just a good and sensible precaution to take.  It doesn't mean you are 'ashamed' of what you do, it just means you are aware, and cautious.

Ken Warren Photography wrote:
I would not recommend any model use their real name on MM or any social networking site where they identify as a model, because it creates an immediate, and very easy to trace, connection between you as a model and your actual life. For instance, knowing your name and state, I can easily locate you on Facebook, which tells me the name of your boyfriend, the high school you attended, etc. An actual creepy individual could stalk you to a fare thee well...

GPS Studio Services wrote:
That is a very interesting question, which I do not understand either.  My name is certainly not "GPS."  I operate a "C-Corp" and have established a business identity.  There are companies that make their business out of helping other companies with their identity and presence.  I see nothing wrong with using an appropriate business name.

For models, however, I think there is a good rationale for using a stage name.  Indeed, for security, I would not only use a stage name, but would also consider getting a PO Box, for mail and to use on my ID.  I'd even look at maintaining a separate cell phone strictly for modeling.  Stalkers are rare, but I see no reason not to take reasonable precautions and to insulate myself from people I work with until I know them well.

Robert Randall wrote:
It's been my experience that photographers using their real name tend to work with ad agencies, photographers that use a name such as the one you use, tend to shoot catalog and/or corporate and retail, while the guys that use names such as "The Epitome of Reflections In A Pool Of Self Awareness Images" tend to shoot nudes for spank bank collections. That's not always true... but close, especially that last one.

Interesting, although I haven't had the same experience.  I used corporate branding to get an identity and to highlight the fact that we were a full service studio, with rental.   It certainly hasn't affected the type of clients I work with.  Perhaps that has something to do with your part of the country.

JohnEnger wrote:

Any person I shoot with have to sign a release and show proof of identity. What's the point of a signature that's just a bogus name...


John

Huh? Okay?

On the model releases I've signed, there were both my alias and my real name. And I signed with my real name.