Lafayette was a commercial photographic company. It was founded in Dublin in 1880 by James Stack Lauder, who used the professional name of James Lafayette. Lafayette's three brothers also worked for the firm. In 1884 Lafayette was elected a member of the Photographic Society of Great Britain. 1885 the firm had attracted the attention of the British Royal family.1887, James Lafayette was invited to Windsor to photograph Queen Victoria. He was granted a Royal Warrant as 'Her Majesty's Photographer in Dublin'.
In the spring of 1885 Alexandra, princess of Wales, visited Ireland and was photographed by his studio after receiving an honorary degree. This remarkable image of a princess in a scholarly role caught the public imagination and more than 60,000 prints were sold. Summoned to photograph Queen Victoria in her golden jubilee year (1887), Lauder became the first Irish photographer to be granted a royal warrant.
