Welcome!

Ian Leslie Macdonald is a Toronto-based photographer and Regimental Photographer to The 48th Highlanders of Canada.

In March 2017, Ian was invited by Her Majesty The Queen to do a series of portraits of her at Windsor Castle to commemorate Her Platinum Anniversary as Colonel-in-Chief of The 48th Highlanders of Canada. He had the honour of also being asked to take new official portraits for the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada and the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery during the sitting.

The Queen personally asked him to take a special official portrait of Her Majesty, released by Buckingham Palace on July 1st, 2017, to commemorate Canada's 150th Anniversary of Confederation.

In October 2017, Her Majesty invited Ian to a private audience with Her at Buckingham Palace to present his finished portraits, which are now in the Royal Collection and Royal Archives, as well as the private collections of several members of the Royal Family.

In 2019, Canada Post issued a First Day Cover with two of Ian's images to celebrate a new stamp featuring Her Majesty The Queen.

In 2012 Ian was awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal for his service to Canada and The Crown. Governor General David Johnston said, "Ian, my wife and I will treasure the photographs you gave us and Canada. What a talent".

Ian has been a member of the 15th Battalion (48th Highlanders) Memorial Project for over a decade, helping to archive thousands of images from the First World War. He has visited France and Belgium twice with the project team for research and to unveil memorials on the 15th. Ian's Grandfather and Great Uncle were pipers and stretcher-bearers with the Battalion (The 48th Highlanders of Canada) during the war.

Ian's work has been used in numerous books, documentary films, magazines, and CD covers. His work can be found in veterans’ hospitals in Canada, the United Kingdom and Canada House in London. His work is also in the Royal Archives and the private collections of various members of the Royal Family.

Ian was in the first graduating class of The Etobicoke School of the Arts, majoring in Drama and Photography. An expert on Harvey Milk, Ian is a sought-after speaker on LGBT rights and history.

Ian has been working on a book of his work photographing members of The Royal Family in Canada and the United Kingdom for over 35 years. Ian is also a member of The Royal Heraldry Society of Canada and has his own personal coat of arms from The Governor General of Canada through The Canadian Heraldic Authority.