He was educated at Harrow and St. John's College at Cambridge University.
Beaton is best known for his fashion photographs and society portraits. He worked as a staff photographer for Vanity Fair and Vogue. He also worked as a stage and film designer, including the musicals Gigi (1959) and My Fair Lady (1965).
During the second world war, he worked for the British Ministry of Information, as a documentary photographer.
In 1972 he received his knighthood.