Geraldine Somerset was lady-in-waiting to the Grand Duchess Olga, sister of Tsar Nicholas II. She married Count Kosakovskii, a member of the imperial court. It is presumed she was responsible for the majority of the photographs in these personal albums, however it seems likely many of the portraits of her were taken by the Grand Duchess Olga. The inclusion of the panoramic photographs suggests the presence of the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, who also appears in some of the images. It is thought the titles in the albums were probably added by Count Kosakovskii as Geraldine was unable to write in Russian.

The albums contain portraits and portrait groups including amongst others the Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, the Emperor Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna, their daughters the Grand Duchesses Olga and Tatiana, his brother the Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovitch, his uncle Grand Duke Serge Alexandrovitch, Mrs. Franklin, Olga's English governess and Geraldine Somerset. Interior subjects at various palaces and country houses include intimate portraits of Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna letter-writing and unpacking Easter eggs, groups standing by a Christmas tree, scenes at dinner and tea parties, musical evenings and billiards. Winter and summer holidays and voyages are represented with groups on board the Polar Star and the Albert-Victoria and at Elsinor, Frederiksburg, Pau and Biarritz featuring skiing trips, a wolf hunt and magnificent picnics. There are also photographs of the hospital for the Russo-Japanese war-wounded organised by Grand Duchess Olga and of a picnic tea with several of the wounded.