Christopher Kilkus Photographer Cecil Beaton

Born in 1904 in London, Cecil Beaton (1904 – 1980) taught himself photography, practicing by photographing his mother and sisters. Beaton worked hard to get noticed, and sold his family portraits to a variety of London magazines. His hard work paid off and Beaton became one of the most renowned photographers of his time.

After relocating to New York in 1929, Beaton began working regularly for Vogue, Vanity Fair and Harper’s Bazaar. He created iconic portraits of celebrities such as: Gary Cooper, Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Katherine Hepburn, Salvador Dali and Francis Bacon. Beaton received the ultimate honor of photographing Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Family.

Besides his status as a sought-after celebrity photographer, Beaton’s work took a serious turn during World War II. Serving as a war photographer in Africa and Asia, Beaton also documented the air raid damage in London. One of his most famous war photographs was of a young, hospitalized girl with a bandage on her head, holding a doll.

Beaton’s career took another turn after World War II; he began working as a set and costume designer for theater productions, films and operas, including Swan Lake, Coco, The Grass Harp, and La Traviata. Beaton even earned an Oscar for Gigi in 1959, and two Oscars for his work on My Fair Lady in 1965.

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