How to Choose (and Make!) the Best Photo Album Book for All Your Memories
This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive commission for purchases made through these links. Price at time of publish date may change.
Technology has turned many things into a dying art. Handwritten letters are rarer, emojis are used to communicate more often than phone calls, and, while many of us have a high-quality camera at our fingertips (via our smartphones), thousands of photos never make it out of the “cloud.” With more and more people looking to combat the constant supply of technology with analog hobbies and activities, it should come as no surprise that the humble photo album still holds a surprising amount of allure and charm. Whether it’s a linen-bound book displayed on your coffee table, or a sleek digitally-designed tome you can reprint with ease, a thoughtful photo album turns fleeting moments into lasting memories.
Choosing the best photo album book starts with one simple question: how do you want to relive these memories? Traditional print photo albums—the kind where individual photos are slipped into plastic sleeves for display—offer a tactile experience that screens simply can’t replicate, acting as a subtle nod to a simpler era we can all appreciate. On the other end, digital albums—designed online with various companies and printed to your exact specifications—allow you to craft a narrative alongside your imagery, weaving in anecdotes about your vacation, children, or detailed memories to add to your experience.
Ahead, we’ll walk you through how to select the best photo album for your taste and needs, as well as the best albums on the market now. We’ll also show you how to curate it in a sustainable and stress-free way, from narrowing down your photos to designing an heirloom-worthy album you’ll want to open again and again.
What to Consider
Paper Type
When shopping for any type of photo album, you want to make sure your chosen design has acid- and PVC-free paper, especially if you’ll be placing photos atop the pages (as opposed to a print-on-demand book). For digitally printed photo books, you’ll likely have your choice of a few different types and qualities of paper. Matte paper, often dubbed lustre or satin, has a smooth, non-shiny finish that is timeless and sophisticated; glossy paper is best for high-drama and high-contrast imagery and vibrant colors; layflat albums incorporate thick archival paper that’s extremely durable and designed to feel substantial and luxurious.
Print Quality
One of the biggest gripes people have when making their own photo album—whether digitally or traditionally—comes down to the print quality of their photos. If you’re making an album digitally, always make sure to upload the largest version of your image possible to your image gallery, and heed any warnings from the program that flag your shots as too low-res—they likely won’t print crisp enough. If you’re printing your images to include in an album, make sure to choose a high-quality supplier, like Artifact Uprising, Mootsh, Printique, or Shutterfly. Keep in mind that most images shot on an iPhone don’t necessarily default to a 4 x 6 or 5 x 7-inch crop, so you may have to resize your images in order to fit the parameters of your printing service.
Continued Customization
Digitally printed photo albums are great, but one thing they can not do is be modified after printing. If you’re someone who likes to add to their photo album as the years go by, you’re probably better suited to go with a traditional photo album, where you can place physical photos in yourself. Always make sure to buy a few extra plastic sleeves or paper sheets, so you have the flexibility to grow your album as needed.
Creative Involvement
Crafting a photo album is supposed to be a welcome trip down memory lane—not an added stressor. Ahead of choosing the best photo album for your needs, be honest with yourself about how involved you want the process to be. Creating digital photo album books can be time-consuming, especially if you choose to forgo the templates offered by some brands and create your own album from scratch. If you’re intimidated by the technological aspect of creating a photo book online, you might be best served by a more traditional photo album.
Tips for Organizing Your Photos
Regardless of what type of photo album you choose, you’ll want to make sure you have a quality system in place for organizing and tracking your photos. Apps like Google Photos, Dropbox, or Amazon Photos can be useful for keeping your beloved imagery secure, while other avenues—like the photo libraries offered by Shutterfly, Artifact Uprising, or another online album maker of your choice—can double as a spot to stash your photos.
To keep on top of the process, try to print off photos (or make another photo book!) at least once every six months or so to keep your digital footprint more manageable. Physical pictures can be stored in an archival photo box until you’re ready to sit down and add them to your album. Do you have a camera roll that’s in the thousands and not sure where to even start? Apps like Picnic can help you weed through all those screenshots and selfies to narrow the pool and determine which pictures are worth space in your next album.
Best Traditional Photo Books
01
Best Overall
Leather Bound Clear Pocket Photo Albums
Pottery Barn
$179.00
Pottery Barn is known for its timeless, classic style, and that’s exactly the note this photo album strikes. Made from Italian Nappa leather and available in a range of stylish hues, this traditional photo album mimics the feel of a three-ring binder, with plastic sleeves that allow you to display up to 108 photos, depending on the size of the album you choose. The book comes with sheets that hold 4 x 6-inch photos, but you can also purchase sleeves for photos of different sizes separately.
Pros:
✓ Available in two sizes and several different color options.
✓ Can hold up to 108 photos.
✓ Three-ring construction makes it easy to page through photos.
Cons:
✗ Cover can not be monogrammed or personalized.
✗ Refill pages need to be ordered separately.
02
Best Design
The Ceremony Club Our First Year Photo Album
Minted
$45.00
If you’re looking for a way to mark a fun relationship milestone, you’ll love these graphic albums from The Ceremony Club, available on Minted. With a hard exterior cover bound in linen and room to house up to 200 photos, these albums offer a chic and stylish way to memorialize your love story, whether it’s for an anniversary, wedding, honeymoon, or wedding shower. Even better, the exterior features fresh color combos and bold typography, allowing them to double as coffee table decor.
Pros:
✓ Available in several different “themes,” including wedding, honeymoon, bachelorette, and more.
✓ Can hold up to 200 photos.
Cons:
✗ Available themes may not suit your life stage or album needs.
✗ Only displays images horizontally.
03
Best Capacity
BeGoldenStationery Large Traditional Linen Photo Album
Etsy
$183.43
Large and beautifully tactile, this hand-bound linen photo album has all the makings of a lifelong keepsake. Instead of dedicated plastic sleeves to house photos, it features pages of premium photo board where you can stick your images in any orientation and combination that you’d like, fitting up to 400 images, depending on how you style them. Each page is separated with glassine interleaves, so you can rest easy knowing your images are protected and designed to look their best for years to come. Even better, the front of the album can be personalized with the name, phrase, or date of your choosing in gold or silver foil.
Pros:
✓ Ten different colors to choose from for the linen exterior.
✓ Comes with your choice of foil-printed personalization.
✓ Can hold up to 400 photos.
Cons:
✗ Does not utilize plastic sleeves; photos get glued to paper.
04
Best Variety of Colors
Artfeel Photo Album (4×6 with 300 Pockets)
Amazon
$15.99
With a variety of sizes and colors available, Artfeel’s photo albums are a cost-effective and stylish way to showcase your memories over the years. The high-quality linen cover—available in shades like red, navy, and pink—opens to reveal plastic sleeves to house 4 x 6-inch photographs atop acid-free and PVC-free paper. There’s even a window on the front cover where you can display your favorite shot or make a paper insert that describes the album (i.e., Our Family Vacation 2026).
Pros:
✓ Eleven different colors to choose from for the linen exterior.
✓ Comes with your choice of foil-printed personalization.
Cons:
✗ Does not utilize plastic sleeves; photos get glued to paper.
Best Online Custom Photo Books
01
Best Overall: Shutterfly
Shutterfly is one of the OG photo album companies on the market, and it’s easy to see why the brand has endured after all these years. Not only is their user interface easy to navigate, but they truly have options for everyone, whether you’re catering your album to family and friends or want a high-end portfolio book to showcase your photography skills. Users can upload their imagery to their Shutterfly account via desktop or app, then use their photo library to craft an album. Choose the size and page count, then design your album from scratch, or choose from a number of curated templates geared toward travel, family, weddings, and more. Certain upgrades, like flatlay pages and hard covers, are available for an extra cost.
Pros:
✓ Flexible design options, including DIY design, pre-designed templates, and even professional help from the Shutterfly team.
✓ Wide range of sizes, cover options, and photo templates available.
✓ Easy to share or order multiple copies for family and friends.
Cons:
✗ Some users may find the number of design options overwhelming.
✗ Some users report issues with print quality, including page trimming, binding, and photo sharpness.
02
Most Affordable: Mixbook
Similar to Shutterfly, Mixbook is a digital-first album platform that grants users near-endless opportunities for curation and customization. Upload photos from your phone or cloud storage directly to your Mixbook design studio, then choose an album type, including a predesigned theme or layout if you choose. From there, you’ll design each page individually, using a drag-and-drop method to add photos, text, design elements, badges, and more. Mixbook is great for all users, but particularly those who prefer a more modern look, high-glossy imagery, and vibrant color palettes.
Pros:
✓ User-friendly interface that’s easy to navigate.
✓ Good print quality with vibrant colors and premium paper options.
✓ Shareable projects that friends and family can view, collaborate, or order copies.
Cons:
✗ Can require a bit of customization, which can be time-consuming.
✗ Quality upgrades cost extra and will increase your spend significantly.
03
Easiest App: Walgreens
For a convenient and foolproof way to get photos off your phone and out into the world, Walgreens can help. The brand is well-known for its in-store photo printing options, but they also have a tailored selection of photo books to choose from if you prefer the look of a book-like album. While the customization and style options aren’t as robust as those of other brands, using Walgreens can eliminate decision fatigue while also still granting you a beautiful way to showcase your memories. Bonus: Depending on your location and local store offers, you may even be able to pick up your album from the storefront within 24 hours.
Pros:
✓ Depending on your location and access, some albums can be available same- or next-day for pickup.
✓ No special software needed; all design tools are accessible via the Walgreens app or in-store kiosks.
✓ A variety of sizes and cover options offer flexibility.
Cons:
✗ Limited customization options compared to other services.
✗ Some users report mixed experiences with quality, including image sharpness.
04
Best Design: Artifact Uprising
If you’re looking for a digital photo album that feels special enough for your precious photographs, look no further than Artifact Uprising. With elegant linen covers, gilded gold leafing, and the best paper selections in the business, Artifact Uprising doesn’t just create photo albums; they create heirlooms. Start by selecting what type of book you want (like layflat, hardcover, or softcover), then proceed to the online editor, which will help you place your imagery using curated layouts. The user interface is minimal and straightforward, so you’ll spend less time navigating your way through complicated technology and more time creating a professionally printed and bound album worthy of coffee table placement.
Pros:
✓ Elegant, minimalist design aesthetic that results in a timeless, heirloom-worthy album.
✓ High-quality materials and printing processes.
✓ Design services available if you want expert advice.
Cons:
✗ More expensive than many competitors.
✗ No mobile-first app editing; laying out your album will be done on a desktop.
21 Best Anniversary Gifts to Celebrate Your Relationship
Treat your special someone to something special.
Read More
Alyssa Longobucco
Alyssa is a freelance writer, editor, and stylist with a background in interior, food, and lifestyle content. The recent recipient of an interior design certification, she has over a decade of experience in the digital and magazine industry helping readers digest design trends and providing actionable expert advice for creating a home and life they love.
⚖️ How We Choose What to Recommend
