Trademarking a small business when another business has similar name?

I want to start a small photography business out of my home and I came up with a great name but I had a few questions. When I searched the state database for trademark names and the thomas register there were no trademark names under the one I wanted to use. However, when I did a general search under yahoo for (blank) photography I found many businesses with that name. None of them are even in the same state so I was wondering if I would be safe using this name? In the photography business I would be dealing only with local customers and even though I have the same name as other photography businesses becasue they are not even in the same state I wouldn't think I would be infringing on their business.