Flickr is good for socializing and meeting people in places that are near and far (like APG or the London group), but the hosting options are so limited that trying to use a Flickr account commercially, even if it were permitted, is fruitless. Permissions aren't flexible on a per photo or set basis. You really can't organize except in the fashion already laid out -- and once you get a few thousand pix and a number of clients whom you want to see certain things only, it becomes so unwieldy it's about impossible. It would be easier to have a free account for each use, and just keep track of them.

But, lets say you want to put proofs online, and only wish to give complete access to the B&G, partial access to first family members, full access to reception images, and so on -- you can try to establish classes of users with friends / family / contacts levels, but how about more per-photo options? It's just useless for that purpose - on purpose. Flawed business model in that context. Not as flawed in other ways. I really think that when it comes to commercial use you're better off setting up a web site, maybe using a service, designer, or package if it's beyond your abilities. Photographers need to be generalists, with knowledge of a lot of things, but expertise centered on photography and the business they're in, rather than the specifics of each related business segment, such as web design and maintenance, processing and printing, etc.

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