A computer-implemented technique can receive a plurality of photos and automatically select a subset of the plurality of photos having a high degree of representativeness by jointly maximizing both photo quality and photo diversity to obtain a photo album. The technique can determine one or more clusters for the photo album using a hierarchical clustering algorithm, and store the photo album according to the one or more clusters. The technique can control the manner in which the photo album is displayed using the one or more clusters. The technique can adjust at least one of the one or more clusters and the automatic photo album generation based on user input. The user input can include at least one of adding, deleting, and moving a photo with respect to the one or more clusters. The technique can then re-cluster, automatically generate a new photo album, and/or adjust the presentation.