A method for creating an image album includes selecting a subset of images from a source set and creating a plurality of image albums by arranging the subset of images over one or more pages. Each image album is evaluated by a penalty detection unit to generate a penalty score which is a measure of the aesthetic quality of an image album. One or more of the image albums having the lowest penalty scores are presented to the user. A system for arranging a number of images into an image album is also provided.