Sir Cecil Walter Hardy Beaton (January 14, 1904 - January 18, 1980) was an English photographer.

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.