Cameron was born in India, one of seven sisters. In 1838 she married Charles Hay Cameron, a prominent member of the British administration in India. The couple lived in Calcutta until 1848 when Charles retired and the family returned to England.

In late 1863 Cameron was given a camera as a gift from her daughter, who wanted her mother to have something with which to occupy herself when her family started to travel abroad. From 1864 on, Cameron exhibited her photographic work widely, becoming known for her bold, creative vision.

Cameron’s work focuses exclusively on the human figure, usually allegorical scenes involving women and children, or close portraits of ‘great men’. Between 1865 and 1869, Queen Victoria acquired at least three groups of Cameron’s photographs, almost all of them portraits of celebrated men of the age.