Three Native American subjects, likely Umatilla, Cayuse, or Walla Walla, are portrayed in a studio setting by W. S. Bowman of Pendleton, Oregon, a photographer active in the Pendleton area during the 1880s and 1890s, a region closely associated with those Columbia Plateau peoples. The format is a cabinet card, and the albumen print displays strong tonal range throughout. Pendleton sits within the traditional homeland of the Umatilla, Cayuse, and Walla Walla confederated tribes, making Bowman's proximity to that community a natural context for this portrait.

The central figure is seated, wearing a dark shirt, a striped blanket wrap, and soft moccasins, and holds a wooden implement across the lap alongside a fringed hide item and what appears to be a white-feathered ornament at the crown of the head. The standing figure at left wears a patterned geometric blanket and large circular ear ornaments, with braided hair. The figure at right is also braided and draped in a striped blanket, wearing a beaded necklace over a light-colored garment.

A painted studio backdrop depicting architectural columns and foliage fills the background, and a decorative painted prop is visible at lower left. The front mount bears the imprint "W. S. Bowman, Pendleton, Ore." with the notation "Duplicates of this photo can be had at any time at reduced prices."

The reverse bears a penciled inscription reading "Mpery R" or similar, partially legible.