If you’ve ever worried about posting pictures online in a way that your friends and family can see them, but no one else can, then you’ll want to check out Kinzin, a totally private photo and information sharing website that helps families connect.

This free service allows parents to upload and maintain pictures and information and then only share it with a specific group of people. And those people can’t forward it to anyone else.

For me, however, the best and most interesting part of the website (since even my own in-laws can barely use the fairly simple set-up) is the photo mailing service. As I wrote in my review, I found this to be worth its weight in gold. For just $2.99/month per address, they will send up to 10 pictures. REAL. LIVE. PICTURES. I’m pretty sure I won the Mother’s Day jackpot. So, if you’ve got grandparents who complain about never getting pictures, this might be the service for you.

But that’s just my opinion. Let’s see how our bloggers have fared with both the web based service as well as the photo mailing component of Kinzin.

An important component to any of these types of service is ease of use, particularly since the people using it are probably not going to be the most technically savvy. One mom had this to say “Setting up your distribution list is as simple as typing in the name and email list and my family had no trouble viewing them once accepting their privately emailed invitation.” In a similar vein, this mom said “This service is extremely easy for less tech-savvy grandparents to view. Simply send them an invite e-mail, and they can then access the photos. There is very little clicking involved, and each section is clearly labeled, making it less likely to cause any confusion.” Added another mom “So far, I’ve found that the photos are easy to upload, and you can add titles and descriptions of each picture if you’d like.” This blogger’s family had no problems figuring it out! “It’s an easy, private photo sharing site that even my most technologically-dumb family members can navigate. I was easily able to share our account with them and they were easily able to register and view the pictures that we uploaded.”

Parents noted that it was indeed completely secure. ” This feature was so secure that I was unable to use the link I sent to one invitee on a different computer than theirs.”

Others noted that while the service is private, you can elect to make it public and connect with other parents. “From there, you can make photo books with the pictures you’ve uploaded or even connect with other parents online, if that’s your thing. I prefer just keeping my pictures private for my close relatives and good friends to view whenever they so desire.”

Additionally, the bloggers noted specific features of the web based component that they liked.

- I also like that you can set up profiles of your kids with a current picture and a blurb telling what they are up to right now, what their favorite things currently are, and even add a wish list of things they’d like for special occasions like birthdays and Christmas. How wonderful would that be for those family and friends who live far away and aren’t able to keep up what your kids are busy with these days.

- The “Photo Book” feature of Kinzin is smart. There are definitely events that show geographically significant information about my kids, or other personal details that I wouldn’t want in a Flickr photoset. Or, I may want to highlight only a few “best” photos on Flickr, whereas I could put up a whole unedited book on Kinzin for the grandparents who don’t mind seeing a gazillion photos of the same kid differing only on a slight angle or pose.

Overall, the bloggers’ favorite feature was the photo mailing service. Bloggers commented on the quality of the pictures. “My order just arrived, and the finishing is lovely, and the colors are great. I love that the photos are matte finished, and have the photo name printed on the front of the photo.” One blogger, who found a few small glitches with the web component felt that the photo mailing service redeemed any issues that he had. “This is a great feature for those of us (like me) who have parents who do not “do” digital. The packages are cleanly presented, and the prints are excellent on high quality paper (our first set came on Fuji paper).”

One blogger did caution users in that what you see is what you get — make sure you upload good quality photos as this is just a printing service (no retouching included!). “A word of caution about the prints - make sure the quality of your digital photos are exactly what you want. Kinzin is not going to touch up or make your dodgy pictures look nicer for you. What you upload is what you get. Just keep that in mind when you’re manipulating your pictures into something unrecognizable and they’re all cropped strangely.”

Some folks had mixed emotions about the titles on the photos, which is an option that you get to choose (although some bloggers stated it was difficult to find. “I do NOT like the title on the prints. I mean, who wants words on their chin (see left). When I complained about said words on chin, I found out that they’re now working to make this option more visible along with a link to show you what the option actually entails and, of course, you are able to deselect it. Fabulous. My experience is now perfect.”

And best of all, our bloggers had very happy family members! “I’ve been using it for a couple of weeks now, the first shipment of photos of Gabe shipped out this week, and so far I’ve received rave reviews. Everyone has updated pictures, and I didn’t have to do anything! It’s a win-win situation! Plus, the grandparents are happy!” Added another “All 3 were very impressed with the pictures - they are beautifully printed, and come in a nice envelope. My grandmother lives in an assisted living place, and her pictures came at breakfast, and she was the talk of the dining room! She was so proud to show off her great-grandchildren!”

One blogger completely surprised her family and this is what she summized: “Her [family member] strong hint that this is the perfect gift idea for families who live apart from grandchildren and loved ones definitely let’s me know we’ll be using Kinzin again in the future.”

Stay tuned for more Kinzin reviews, and try the service out for yourself! Based on the reactions of these family members, it will make a fantastic father’s day gift for some lucky grandpa.

Today! Cheese Party, Lawyer Mama,
Wed 5/14 - Letters to My Daughters, Mom Reviews
Thurs 5/15 - Binkytown, Krississippi,
Thurs 5/22 - FINAL ROUND UP

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We have some Blog Blast Winners to announce! (And stay tuned for a great one this Friday — speaking of grandparents…

Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Cause Winners (Johnson and Johnson Gift Basket courtesy of JnJ and $25 donation to Global Giving Charity of their choice courtesy of PBN):

http://creaturebug.typepad.com/creature_bug/2008/05/the-year-i-buy.html

http://rerunandjungleclown.blogspot.com/2008/05/one-mama-bloggers-baby-gardening-cause.html

http://www.musingsofahousewife.com/musings_of_a_housewife/2008/05/hallmark-strike.html

http://cheeseparty.blogspot.com/2008/05/making-it-all-worthwhile.html

http://submommy.blogspot.com/2008/05/my-ugly-feet.html

http://stuffreviews.blogspot.com/2008/04/mothers-day-doesnt-have-to-be-another.html

http://andababy.blogspot.com/2008/05/mother-of-all-mixers.html

http://jasonncaryn.blogspot.com/2008/05/greatest-gift.html

http://amommystory.blogspot.com/2008/05/this-mothers-day-just-leave-me-alone.html

http://ngunderground.blogspot.com/2008/05/what-i-want-for-mothers-day.html

Rookie Moms Blog Blast Winners (a super duper prize pack of all kinds of cool stuff!)

http://www.temporarilyme.com/2008/05/09/integrating-into-a-new-world-rookie-style/

http://thekiddieclique.com/main/?p=213

(If you haven’t been emailed yet and you see your blog up here, then email us!)