Is it safe to share children's photos this way?

It is much safer than an open folder, because you can require a password, set an end date, and the gallery is not listed on search engines. Always follow your school's consent policy as well.

Do parents need a Google account?

No. They tap the link and enter the class password. It works on any device with no app or sign-in.

Can we remove access after the term ends?

Yes. Set an end date so the link expires on its own, or archive the gallery any time. See making a link that expires.

Occasions

How to share school and class-trip photos with parents safely

Teachers and schools need to share trip and event photos with parents without exposing children publicly. Here is a safe, simple way to do it from Google Drive.

Hannah Brooks

UX writer at Galrivo·23 April 2026·2 min read

Children's backpacks lined up on a bench during a school outing

After a school trip or a sports day, parents understandably want the photos. For the school, sharing them is a balancing act: parents should see the day, but children's photos must never end up on the open internet. The right setup makes the share easy for parents and safe for the school.

What matters most for schools

Children's photos must not be publicly searchable or postable.
Access should be limited to the parents of the class, not anyone with a link.
Parents should not need accounts or apps; many will open it on a quick break.
The school should be able to switch the share off after a set time.

Check your safeguarding policy first

Always follow your school's photo-consent and safeguarding rules. Only share images of children whose parents have given consent, and keep a record of which families opted out.

A safe sharing setup

If the photos live in a school Google Drive, share them as a private gallery rather than a raw folder:

Build the gallery from the trip folder

Pick the approved photos from your Drive. Nothing is copied anywhere.

galrivo.com/dashboard

make a gallery

Pick your media.

Continue with 4

Add a password for the class

Set a password and share it through your usual parent channel, such as the school app or a letter home.

PasswordPeople enter this once before they can open the gallery.

••••••••

Set an end date

Have the gallery close a few weeks after the trip, so the link does not live on forever.

Link works until

31 Dec 2026

After this date the link stops opening. Leave it blank for no end date.

Send the link to parents

One link to the class list. Parents tap, enter the password, and see the day. No accounts to manage.

Public link

aanya.galrivo.com/goa-2026

Copy

A teacher and students looking at a tablet together outdoors — Parents see the trip; the photos stay off the open web.

Why a gallery beats a raw folder here

A plain Drive folder set to "anyone with the link" is risky for children's images, because a single forwarded link is wide open. A private gallery adds a password, an end date, and the fact that it is not listed on search engines. Together those make a meaningful difference. For more on the search angle, see a gallery that won't show up on Google.

Key takeaways

Follow your school's consent and safeguarding policy before sharing any photos.
A raw open folder is risky for children's images; a forwarded link is wide open.
A private gallery adds a password, an end date, and no search listing.
Parents open one link with a password, no accounts to manage.

Frequently asked questions

Share your media the easy way

Turn the photos and videos in your Google Drive into one clean link, with a password and an end date if you want. Free to start, no app for the people you send it to.

Make my first gallery

Hannah Brooks

UX writer at Galrivo

Hannah writes the words inside Galrivo and the step-by-step guides for getting things done on your phone, whatever device you carry.