This subseries primarily includes photographs and snapshots of Ruth Bernhard with friends, family, students, and colleagues. Photographic materials vary greatly in size and quality, from fine art portraits of Ruth Bernhard taken by various friends and fellow professional photographers, to early black-and-white photographs from Bernhard's childhood in Germany, to amateur contemporary color snapshots taken at various events and parties. Many photographs of Bernhard in her apartment on Clay Street in San Francisco are present in this subseries, including documentation of her collection of natural objects and props, some of which can be found in Series 3. In snapshots from her later life, which make up the majority of materials in this subseries, Bernhard is frequently pictured with her life partner, Price Rice, and Mary Ann Helmholtz (sometimes abbreviated as "MAH"), her close friend and personal assistant. In addition to large, sometimes mounted, prints stored flat and vertical files containing snapshots and small photographs, photograph albums are also included at the end of the subseries.

This subseries includes fine art photographs and artwork by others, gifts, personal effects, and other memorabilia collected by Ruth Bernhard for sentimental value. The majority of materials in this subseries consist of photographs and artwork given to Bernhard by others, often personally inscribed to her and occasionally accompanied by related correspondence. Prominently featured are photographers Michael Kenna and Saïd Nuseibeh, both of whom worked as printers for Bernhard for many years and whose independent photographic careers she followed. Works by friends and students Abraham Aronow, Norman Jensen, Peter Adams, and Alfonso Malato de Sousa also appear frequently.