"Half the world's behind you."
Sometimes, you get a piece of advice that changes your whole world. This was it for me.
When my friend and mentor, the late Scott Marrs, taught me this, I learned to look at the world differently.
As photographers, we're conditioned to chase the most brilliant, stunning images - it's why you see so many of us pursuing the same picture-postcard landscapes.
But the most extraordinary photos often happen when you turn your lens away from what everyone else is shooting, and capture what lies behind.
That's where you find the moments that haven't been photographed a thousand times before. The light that no one else saw, or will again. The scenes that are genuinely real and rare.
european landscape photographer of the year
british fine art photographer of the year
world photographic cup - landscape
british architectural photographer of the year
"REAL IS RARE.
 I WANT TO CAPTURE IT"
I've spent my career travelling the world - and in between the shoots, I've done most of the things people warn you against. Licensed pilot. Skydiver. Archer. Climbed Mt. Fuji, twice. So if you're ever in a plane with me and I ask you to "just hold this for a second", you might want to check I'm not wearing a parachute...
The camera I carry is a Phase One medium format system - 151 megapixels, the highest resolution digital back currently available. Not because bigger is always better, but because when you're stood on top of a building in Shanghai at 4am or lying in the dirt in Arizona waiting for the light to break, you want to know the image you're about to capture can fill a wall without compromise.
My work is used by some of the world's best-known brands, and collected by people who want something on their walls that actually means something.
Every picture I capture is taken because the scenery took my breath away at the time, and I want you to feel that same "wow" moment when you see them too.
Recognition and Awards
Fellowship of the British Institute of Professional Photography (FBIPP)
(2015+)
Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society (FRPS)
(2021+)
Fellowship of The Societies of Photographers
(FSWPP)
(2017+)
Accredited - New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography
(2021+)
Beyond the distinctions I hold with photographic societies around the world, my work has won numerous international awards.
I was named Landscape Photographer of the Year 2022 and Architectural Photographer of the Year 2022 by the British Institute of Professional Photography, following the previous year's Fine Art Photographer of the Year 2021. From the annual Professional Photographer of the Year awards to the UN/UNESCO "International Year of Light" award for images at night - that recognition has come from across the industry.
Most recently, I was presented with the "Golden Camera" award by the Federation of European Photographers for landscape imagery in 2025 - the top award for this genre in Europe.
My work has been exhibited around the world, from Times Square in New York to the Royal Albert Hall and Houses of Parliament in London, with gallery installations across Europe and Asia.
Paul Reiffer - in 60 seconds
Luxury travel. Adventure brands. Global destinations.
Featured and commissioned by the world's finest brands
My landscape work is often featured by the US National Park Service and National Geographic, as well as in promotions and destination guides by travel companies such as British Airways, Qatar Airways, W Hotels, Per Aquum and Intercontinental Hotels Group.
My images have been extensively published in well-known national and international newspapers and magazines around the world, and my technical expertise is regularly called upon for editorial features by luxury travel and adventure brands. Other commercial clients include Royal Caribbean, Hyatt, Shangri-La, Ford, Pineapple Dance Studios, Aon, Rebel, Kingfisher, Getty Images, plus many more.
Industry Partnerships
One of six Global Ambassadors worldwide. I shoot exclusively with Phase One medium format systems - 151 megapixel digital backs paired with Schneider Kreuznach and Rodenstock lenses. When an image needs to fill a hotel lobby wall without compromise, this is the kit that delivers it.
As one of the longest serving Capture One ambassadors, I work directly with Capture One's development team in Copenhagen - not just using the software, but providing input from the field. The post-production tool I rely on every day is one I've helped shape through real-world use.
Precision equipment built for extreme conditions. Gitzo's tripods are designed not to fail when it matters most - which is exactly what's required when you're shooting at altitude, in wind, or in sub-zero temperatures.
My camera bags travel from Icelandic glaciers to Arabian deserts. I work with NYA-EVO's product development team to help design the next generation of expedition packs - testing them in the conditions they're actually built for.
One of my earliest memories is spending time with my father on the south coast of England, watching him develop black and white images in a self-built darkroom in the loft-space of our family home. Since then, for as long as I can remember, I've always had a camera with me: Polaroid, 110mm, Disc, 35mm, APS, digital, phone. It didn't matter what type. I just loved capturing what I saw at that particular moment
My photographic skills were refined through years of working with some of the best photographers in the industry - a benefit of shooting alongside them around the world as a model for several years. Making the most of the opportunity to question and receive their feedback on my own work, I found my real passion when I finally made the decision to switch to the other side of the lens.
While I've lived in five different countries, I still spend much of my time travelling the world. The camera comes everywhere - but the best part is that I've built a career around something I've always enjoyed, and I was never going to stay in one place.
Work with Paul
Fine Art Prints
Limited edition prints for collectors and interior designers. Framed and ready to hang, or unframed - shipped anywhere in the world.
Commercial Photography
Commissions for hotels, travel brands, and hospitality groups - from full campaigns to property and architectural photography.
Private Expeditions
Five exclusive photography workshops per year. Private, global, fully supported - across worldwide destinations.