Best way to share files between users?

Question

New to the Mac World and trying to set things up for all our users. We have 5 (2adults,3kids) and I'm keen to be able to share some files with other members of my family and would like to know the easiest way in doing this.
A couple of things to note;
- The two adults are the admin's
- Would like to share some photos between users (family photos are usually organised by my wife so I don't get to see them)
- I'd like to let my kids view some of my videos that I've downloaded but not all of them
Appreciate your time guys!
Cheers

Answer 1

Please try this first.  If you want to share certain files between users like pictures or music or even documents, apple has provided an easy way to do so.  The first step is to decide what to share.  For this example I will do pictures.  Open up Finder and go to the Macintosh HD, then click on "Users".  Here you will see a list of the users. Your account will look like a house instead of a folder because it is the account in use.  Click on your account and then right click (secondary click) on the pictures folder. 
NOTE: From this point on you can do the same thing to any folder, such as music, documents, etc. or any file, such as a specific document in your documents folder.  But I will keep explaining pictures.
After right clicking on the pictures folder, a new window will open up.  Near the bottom you will see "Sharing & Permissions:"  This is where you decide which users can access your folders/files and whether they can just read them or read and write them.  For example, if you want your wife and kids to have access to your iphoto library, just press the "+" button and add each one of them.  Under "Privilege" you had better give your wife the ability to "Read & Write" or you may get in trouble .  By doing this, any pictures she adds, deletes, or edits will be added, deleted, or edited in your iphoto too (and vice versa).  Lets say you don't want your kids to have editing abilities, then you just give them the "Read Only" privilege.  They can look at all the pictures, but they cannot change, add, or delete them.
When your wife opens iPhoto for the first time, it will ask which library she wants to use.  (If not, you can do it through the menu bar).  Make sure you choose the iPhoto library under YOUR user account, not your wife's (it's empty).  It will no longer have a little red minus sign next to it.  That is the last time it will ask.  Every time your wife opens her iPhoto, it will use that library.  Same for the kiddos. 
Again, you can do this with any folder or file.  This is how Apple intended users to share content without duplicating files or using external hard drives.  This way each user has their own icloud account but can access the families shared content.
Hope this helps!  Good luck!