I have two young children, and I take a lot of photos of them. There are many that are pretty outstanding.(tooting my own horn) I also like to get feedback on those photos, because I have an ego and sometimes need that feedback to know I am producing stuff people like. Its a fault I admit!
So, the question of the day is- How is the best method to show off the photos I have taken with people who might be interested... in this case only family and friends.
My wife and I determined VERY early in their lives that we were going to try to shield my kids from the Internets. Limit exposure really. We didn't want their images plastered all over the Internets, or their names known on blogs, etc. This is why I don't mention their names on my regular blog, and why I don't post their images on Flickr.
As an example of one way to share, would be to use Flickr. I have been on there since about 2000. I know the communities, I know the interface, I know how it works. However, I would need to set all those images to private, then have everyone I want to see them to get an account and 'friend' them so they can see those images. On top of that, they would need to check in or keep up on my account for new kid photos. Not the world's greatest method. Not easy. Little too restrictive.
Ultimately, we went with the world's most popular social media site- Facebook. The photos put in there, will automatically be populated to friends' news. No work, no fuss by me. I can restrict the level of access. I can do various other methods to see if someone can see it or not. I don't post on FB, and 99% of what I put on there is photos of my kids. Thats what I use my account for now-a-days.
Do I wish there might be a better way? I am sure... however, I don't even have a wallet photo of my kids to put in my wallet. I am more likely to flip out my phone and use that.
Then again, I am just as happy to have my very best/favorite photos of them printed and posted in the hallway of my house. I have no problem with that at all... makes me smile when I see them.
[update September 6th]
Found an interesting post about why some parents don't post ANYTHING about their kids.
And the very interesting counterpoint.
