The first deciding factor is the size of the photos you have or want to take. Not all photo albums will hold a variety of picture sizes, so be sure that the one you buy can accommodate the size of your photos. Know if you want an album with pockets and places to write a memo, or if you want pages with a one sheet plastic cover where you decide where the photos go on the page. The ones with the pockets are easier to place and take out, but the pictures must be the correct size of the pockets for it to work right. The cover is important because you will have to look at it every time you want to view your photo collection. Make sure you choose a cover you want to look at for years and years. Most of them have slots for favorite pictures, and some of them have saying and phrases sewn or printed on the covers. Know how many photos you want to put in the album. The usual accommodations are from 100 for the smaller albums and 500 for the larger ones. If you do not have many photos and do not want to add more, then get a smaller album. The last consideration you need to ponder is the price. Go with your intended price for the one you want to buy.