The 10 Best Photo Albums of 2020

Nov 03, 2023

11 items in this article 3 items on sale!

11 items in this article 3 items on sale!

Here at the Strategist, we know that finding the “best” product really depends on exactly whom you ask — which is why we’ve devoted this series to squeezing in as many informed, trustworthy opinions as possible. And we’ve come up with dozens of ways to do this, among them: surfacing reader reviews from across the internet, taking quick polls of our most insane friends and fellow shopping-obsessed Strategist editors, and partaking in some advanced internet snooping.

With that, we’ve rounded up the best photo albums out there. There’s nothing wrong with storing your favorite snapshots on Instagram or in the cloud, but digitally browsing through your memories will never feel as special as taking a photo album off the shelf and physically flipping through the pages. Recently, I went on a hunt for a great photo album to hold my massive collection of museum postcards. I wanted an album that looked modern — nothing like the sticky-paged photo albums that gathered dust in my parents’ house. My search both on the Strategist and beyond turned up some truly attractive photo albums for every kind of picture, from millennial-favorite Instax to treasured archival photos. These are the kind of albums that won’t gather dust, because you’ll find yourself flipping through them again and again.

Amazon reviewers have spoken and their favorite photo album — or albums, really — is this line of fabric-covered selections from Pioneer. With 21 colorways and the option to buy by the bundle, these simple and attractive photo albums are a no-brainer. “I went to Costco and printed out about 1,000 pictures and bought several of these and was able to catalogue our entire last 10 years in just a few hours,” writes one reviewer. “The plastic is durable and easy to get pictures in without bending/warping and the outside is a nice clean look that is uniform on the shelf.” This is also the album I settled on for my postcards, though I opted for the 5x7 version.

Last Christmas, Strategist writer Lauren Ro explained that for the holiday season, she would be giving her family photo books featuring her young son from Artifact Uprising, the go-to service for wedding albums and preserving other special occasions. “We’ve heard a lot of good things about the company’s service and quality,” writes Ro. “You can also choose whether you want 30, 40, or 50 archival pages in your book. The interface was relatively straightforward to use, with preset templates that you can swap out if desired.” With the holiday season now far behind us, I asked Ro for an update, and she confirms they were a hit.

If you or someone you know is obsessed with taking Polaroids, they’re going to need a photo album designed to protect their incredibly precious photographs. Kyle Depew, owner of Brooklyn Film Camera, highly recommends the photo albums from Boston-based producer Grimm Books. (He loves them so much that the two companies have their own photo album collaboration that consistently sells out.) “Each album is assembled and stitched by hand using well-made, archival materials and will last for generations if well cared for,” says Depew. “At the end of the day, though, their albums are simply the best we’ve seen. The quality speaks for itself.”

We here at the Strategist are notebook fiends. So imagine our delight when we spotted these Moleskine photo books, produced in collaboration with Milk Handcrafted Photo Books on the Instagram of graphic designer and noted minimalist Liz Tamanaha. You can choose from a variety of formats from the classic notebook shape to a large nine-by-seven-inch monograph, and the whole thing can be designed while sitting at your computer.

Prior to my extended research into the world of photo albums, I did a cursory Google query, and the very first photo albums to catch my eye were these 100-photo albums from Seattle-based online shop MochiThings, which specializes in all things “cute and functional.” The albums are spiral-bound, available in eight beautiful colorways, and come with 50 memo papers for jotting down the time and place a certain photo was taken. And with “Album de photos pour ma mémoire” etched on the front, this is also the best photo album for anyone whose favorite film is Les Parapluies de Cherbourg.

If you want to give someone a one-of-a-kind gift, grab a lovely leather-bound photo album from Heirloom Leathersmiths, one of the best-selling photo albums on Etsy, with more than 700 positive reviews. “The leather is buttery soft and the craftsmanship is spot on,” writes one reviewer, while another notes, “This is my 3rd order from them for a photo album and again, they did not disappoint!” This would also make an excellent 3rd anniversary gift.

If printing out hundreds of photos is simply too much work for you, just let Mixbook do it. Strategist contributor Leah Bhahba highly recommends the stylish albums from this photo book company, which can be built entirely on your phone by simply downloading a single app. “Just select 20 photos from your camera roll and the app will transform them into an adorable keepsake book with a cool geometric cover,” Bhabha writes. “Four days later, a seven-by-seven-inch bound volume of your photos is in your hands.”

Fujifilm’s take on the instant camera is a perennial favorite of the younger generation (and photographers, in general), because not only is the camera cute as all get out but you can buy all kinds of accessories to go with it. After some light stalking, we spotted this adorable Instax photo album on the Instagram of Brazilian writer and photographer Carolina Altino. While we couldn’t find that exact album, we did come across a very similar one from Urban Outfitters that allows you to flip through your Instax at a moment’s notice. (UO happens to have quite a selection of Instax photo albums.)

If you’re lucky enough to have photographs dating back several generations and are worried about preserving them (or just come across a treasure trove of old photos at your local antiques shop), you’ll need an album approved for archiving. Melissa Barker, a certified archives manager at the Houston County, Tennessee Archives — better known as The Archive Lady — recommends the box albums from Gaylord Archival, which are free of acid and lignin, a plant-based polymer that weakens photos. They’ve also passed the Photographic Activity Test, which determines how likely an album is to deteriorate or damage a photograph, and can hold up to 150 photos.

Those who like to have the photo flipping done for them will love this top-rated digital photo frame on Amazon. Reviewers say the WiFi-equipped touchscreen gadget is easy to set up, and many note that it’s user-friendly enough for the elderly relatives in their family. Best of all, it turns off when people aren’t around and even has a sleep timer, so you can make sure it’s up and running first thing in the morning.

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