How much for your kids' pictures?
My colleague Susan Reimer has a fun column today on the astronomical sums magazines are paying for photos of A-list celebrity babies. After writing about her kids in the newspaper for years, she'd like a piece of that action.
It makes me think about the controversy that rears up every now and then about how much mom bloggers should expose about their kids. For a taste of the debate, check out this archived thread from local blogger Sweetney.
For those of you who have blogs, what's your thinking on this?
Comments
Oh, that's a toughie. Right now my kids think it's funny that I have a blog and use their dialogues and art as fodder. But with the oldest nearing 11 (tomorrow!) I know the time is coming when they'll resent it at best - to say nothing of the potential horror if something I say about them on the blog ever comes back to them through their peers. I either need to abandon mommy blogging at some point or change my identity.
Posted by: Kate Dino | August 12, 2008 12:19 PM
Blogs are a great way for you to keep your family informed of all the wonderful things your kids are doing, especially if your family doesn't live close. Our parents live in South Carolina and Florida, so it's been wonderful to share vacation photos and memories, everyday silliness, etc. so the grandparents don't just see the kids once every 3-6 months. You can always password protect the site so that only certain people have access!
Posted by: Kelly | August 12, 2008 1:16 PM
Well I did get $500 from FOX when they broadcast a photo of my dog on TV without my permission. Hmmm...
heh.
Posted by: sweetney | August 12, 2008 4:11 PM
I try to keep my kid's feelings in mind when I post stories or photos of them. Would I mind it if my mom had publicly shared stories about me as a baby/toddler? probably not, but when they are older, I can definitely see myself limiting what i share about them.
However, it's a whole different world for kids now, and I'm sure my kids will have their own blogs.
And honestly, I'm more worried about someone picking through my trash and stealing my identity than about my blog being a risk for my family.
And hey, I have a good looking cat...can I get some of that 500 dollar action?
Posted by: Kayris | August 12, 2008 5:13 PM
Interesting - I agree with the last comment about thinking of it from the child's perspective with "would I mind if I were the kid" situation. I want to know, too, how did you get $$ for the dog pic (and how did you find out the dog pic was even on the air?). Anyway, for the poster with the good looking cat - join the crowd! :-) There is a nice contest at http://www.drsfostersmith.com/general.cfm?c=6067&gid=691 so go prove it and win some shopping money and/or a trip. :-)
Posted by: Marshella | August 13, 2008 4:59 AM
marshella - hi! the elaborate, long-winded story of Truman v. Fox can be read on my blog here: http://www.sweetney.com/sweetney/2007/12/all-i-want-for.html
it was kind of hilarious, actually. i never really wanted $, but took it on principal -- Fox being so ridiculously litigious over copyright issues, it didn't seem right that they could/would get away with such a thing.
Posted by: sweetney | August 13, 2008 9:03 PM