People, Spaces & The Work in Between

Documentary-led commercial photography across the North West.

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I’m John, a documentary-led commercial photographer based in Liverpool.

I create honest, natural images for businesses, arts projects and events across the North West.

Living room with beige sofa, wooden floor, potted plants on window sill and outside balcony, and a large glass door
A person in a yellow smiley face costume, wearing blue pants and a hat, is stepping out of a blue and white bank truck with the words "Better than the bank" written on it.
Two young girls with braided hair and backpacks outdoors, one holding a phone with a butterfly display case, smiling and looking at the screen, surrounded by green trees.
Interior view of a dining room with a table set with white plates, silverware, and small flower vases, overlooking a landscape through an open window showing trees and hills.
Crowd at LGBTQ+ pride event with rainbow flags, large colorful balloon with message "You Made It!" in background
A man with gray hair and a beard is smiling during a meeting, sitting at a desk with computers and a phone. There is a white brick wall and a colorful mural artwork in the background.
Neon sign on a wooden slatted wall that reads 'People Helping People' with a heart shape outline. Part of a kitchen counter with a brown chair in the foreground.
A man wearing safety glasses and earplugs operating a machine in a factory or workshop.
A person holding a smartphone displaying a trail app with icons for different locations and options, outdoors on grass and pavement.
Interior view with a mounted deer head and antlers on the wall, a classical bust sculpture on a black shelf, a framed portrait of a man, and a window with natural light.
A colorful mural featuring a yellow bull with red details in front of a red background with blue and green patterns, with people at a carnival or fair behind a fence decorated with red lanterns hanging from leafless trees.
Woman with braided hair working on a silver laptop in a modern office, with a notebook and a mouse on the desk, and a man working on a computer in the background.

Meet John Dom Paiva

My work blends people, place and process — real moments, real environments, real stories.

From workplaces to hospitality, architecture to brands, my approach is simple: photograph your story as it genuinely unfolds.

  • "Nothing was a problem for him. He was patient, and friendly."

  • "It was like being photographed by someone who’d known us for a long time."

  • "A very warm presence and deftly able to both corral and steer people for photos."

Allerton Windows

Home Improvements

I photographed two sides of their story: the refined calm of newly installed showroom spaces, and the craft and precision inside their Liverpool workshop.

My approach was to work quietly and observe — capturing clean, modern interiors shaped by natural light, then shifting to the rhythm of production on the factory floor.

This project shows how commercial photography can reveal both the finished beauty of a product and the skilled hands that bring it to life.

Modern small house with white exterior walls, large glass sliding door, wooden flooring, and a small kitchen inside with orange chairs. Potted plants on either side of the entrance. Cloudy sky overhead.
Modern kitchen with white marble countertops, gray cabinets, and an island. Orange bar stools are in front of the island, kitchen features a sink, stove, and built-in oven.
A man working in a woodworking shop, standing behind a workbench with several fur-covered wooden logs on it. The background includes wooden planks, a green triangular shelf, a fire extinguisher, and shelves with boxes and tools.
Modern kitchen with cream-colored cabinets, marble countertops, and a gas stove, featuring a small potted plant and a purple vase with sticks.
A man working on a construction or manufacturing project, wearing red ear protection and glasses, using a power tool on a white metal frame.
Living room with beige sofa, potted plants near window and sliding glass door, hardwood floor, and white walls.
Living room with a beige sofa, a small plant, and large floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors leading outside to a parking lot and city buildings.
A worker in a warehouse operating industrial machinery, possibly assembling or inspecting parts, with a focus on control panels and safety signs.
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Mayfly

Digital Marketing Agency

In the heart of Liverpool’s Fabric District, I documented the team at Mayfly as they turned strategy into action. This body of work blends environmental portraits, workspace detail shots and candid moments of creative and technical tension.

The images function as more than corporate documentation — they visualise a modern agency culture rooted in transparency, partnership and results. Each photograph shows how Mayfly become the ‘extra set of hands’ their clients trust.

A man with gray hair and a beard smiling in a pink T-shirt seated at a desk with multiple computer screens in an office setting, with a white brick wall and a colorful graffiti art mural in the background.
A smiling man with a beard and mustache standing with arms crossed against a white brick wall, wearing a navy blue T-shirt with pink and white text.
A woman with long, dark, braided hair is sitting at a wooden desk, smiling and looking at her laptop. She is wearing a light-colored blazer over a black shirt, and has a notebook and a computer mouse in front of her. In the background, a man is worki
A smiling man with a full beard and short gray hair, wearing a white and red striped t-shirt, standing against a white brick wall.
Man in gray sweater sitting at a desk with a large computer monitor, in an office or conference room with other people working, woman in white jacket smiling and working on laptop in background.
A man wearing glasses and a black sports shirt with logos, standing with arms crossed in front of a white brick wall.
A group of six people working at computers in a modern open-concept office with large windows, artwork on the white brick wall, and a sign that reads 'MAYFLY' with a stylized paper airplane logo.
A portrait of a smiling Black woman with long braided hair, wearing a black blazer, standing in front of a white brick wall.
Man with glasses working at a desk, looking at a Dell computer monitor with a silver MacBook laptop beside him, against a white brick wall with cityscape photos.
A smiling man with light brown hair, a beard, and blue eyes, wearing a light pink T-shirt with a graphic of a sun and the words 'Dawn to Dusk,' standing in front of a white brick wall.
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Crescengo

Arts-Based Mobile App and Outdoor Gamification

For the “Jewels of York” trail commissioned by York Civic Trust, I documented how the mobile game Crescengo transforms the public realm into a sonic and exploratory experience.

Players visit sculptures, buildings and parks; each stop unlocks a fragment of music and a local story. My role: capture real human moments, spatial interactions and the hidden textures of place

Two young girls outdoors, one holding a blue water bottle and the other looking at a smartphone, surrounded by green foliage.
Two people looking at a smartphone screen displaying a trail app called 'River Trail' with a map and icons.
A person with short red hair holding a smartphone with a map app open, standing on a stone pathway next to a woman with long red hair.
A woman and girl standing outside near a brick wall, looking at a smartphone together. The girl is wearing a gray shirt that says 'Just a girl who loves axolotls' and has buttons on her shirt. In the background, there's a white robot sculpture with b
An older man and woman standing outdoors in a park, both looking at their smartphones and smiling.
Two people looking at and taking a photo of a large, colorful, painted rock with various painted images and symbols, outdoors on grass.
Four people, two adults and two children, are gathered around a map or brochure outside in front of a historic stone building with turrets, trees, and other people in the background.
Two women and a child looking at a city map of York, with one woman holding a phone. The scene is outdoors, on a sidewalk near a wooden platform.
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Central Credit Union

Financial Non-Profit Co-Operative

I was commissioned to photograph the launch of Barney, Central Credit Union’s new mascot character, created to support community outreach and engagement. The focus of the shoot was to introduce Barney in a way that felt approachable, playful and rooted in real environments.

The resulting images help position the Credit Union as friendly, accessible and community-focused across web, social and campaign materials.

A man crouching next to a mobile bank van labeled 'Better than the bank' with the logo of Central Credit Union, adjusting or inspecting something near the vehicle's steps.
A person dressed in a yellow and blue mascot costume with large eyes and a smile, waving from the doorway of a purple and white mobile bank truck.
Person dressed in a lemon costume with cartoon lemon face, purple gloves, and a purple cap, standing in front of a purple and white billboard.
A wooden utility pole with a decorative green face sculpture of a girl's profile mounted on it. There is a rusted metal sign attached to the pole that reads, 'This is our happy place.' Blurred greenery and a railway track are visible in the backgroun
A person in a mascot costume resembling a yellow coin with a smiling face, arms, and purple gloves standing in front of a large sculpture of a woman with multiple arms holding baskets, with a cloudy sky above, bushes, a fence, and buildings in the ba
A person dressed in a lemon character costume with a smiley face on the front, sitting on a swing in a playground with a black rubber surface, trees, a fence, and an apartment building in the background.
A metal planter filled with pink flowers with yellow centers, placed outdoors against a background of green foliage. A small plaque on the planter reads, "Behold the seeds you have sown. AH."
A person dressed in a lemon mascot costume with a bright yellow body, large cartoon eyes, a smiling face, purple gloves, and a purple helmet. The mascot is standing outdoors in front of a blue bank truck with the sign 'Better than the bank.' in the b
A cartoon-style penguin face with big eyes and a yellow hood, seen through a vehicle window.
A neon sign reading 'People Helping People' hangs on a wooden slat wall inside a modern interior space.
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Bodysgallen Hall & Spa

Historic House & Hotel

At Bodysgallen Hall & Spa, I was tasked with photographing more than a venue — I documented a place with heritage, life and layered purpose.

My approach: move unobtrusively through the rooms and grounds. Capture the macro-details: soft light filtering through grand windows, a peaceful dining room, and secluded outdoor spaces.

This work demonstrates how commercial photography can elevate a hospitality brand by remaining honest to its essence.

A large medieval-style stone castle on a hillside with surrounding gardens and trees under a blue sky.
A stone house with beige window frames, a door with glass panes, a small outdoor bench, and a hedge, under a blue sky.
View of a lush garden with neatly trimmed bushes, a large tree, and stone structures, seen through a small, square-pane window.
A room with a large window showing a scenic view of mountains and trees outside. The window has metal grid panes, and the room features a floor lamp with a beige shade and part of a cushioned armchair.
A cozy dining room with round tables covered in white tablecloths, set with plates and cutlery, and decorated with flowers. Large windows with stained glass and orange curtains let in natural light and offer a view of a garden outside.
An elegant dining room with a large window showing an outdoor landscape with trees and hills. The table is set with white plates, silverware, and a flower arrangement in vases. Wooden chairs are around the table, and a decorative bust sculpture is on
Interior corner of a room with two mounted deer antelope heads on the wall, a marble bust sculpture of a bearded man on a black shelf, a painting of a man in historical clothing, and a window with grid panes.
A garden with neatly trimmed hedges, bushes, and trees, featuring a white bench placed among the greenery, with a stone wall and a building with a window in the background.
A view of a well-maintained garden with trimmed hedges, a decorative maze, and a lawn surrounded by trees and stone walls, taken from above.
A historic stone castle with multiple chimneys and small windows, situated on a hill with stone and greenery, under a partly cloudy sky.
Let's Talk

My approach is

honest, observational, people-centred and quietly meticulous.

I’m interested in photographing the real character of your business — the spaces you’ve crafted, the products you’ve built, and the people who bring it all to life.

I work unobtrusively, moving through environments without disrupting what’s already happening. No forced smiles or over-polished gloss — just authentic imagery that reflects how your space feels and how your team works.

The goal is simple: to create a set of images that feels true to your brand today, and still feels true years from now — a visual record of what you do, how you do it, and why it matters.

Events & Community Stories

Liverpool Pride & Lunar New Year

I occasionally photograph cultural and community events across Liverpool — fast-moving, human-centred environments where real moments unfold quickly.

These projects reflect the same documentary approach I bring to commercial work: honest, unscripted, responsive photography.

People celebrating at a pride parade with rainbow flags, colorful banners, and a large balloon with the words "YOU MADE IT!" in the background.
A woman in a police uniform bows down to a dog wearing a rainbow-colored bandana, surrounded by people at a pride event.
Bronze lion statue in front of a crowd of people holding rainbow flags and umbrellas, with large columns of a building in the background.
People gathered at a pride parade in front of a large equestrian statue, some holding rainbow flags and wearing colorful clothing and accessories.
Two young people with dyed hair standing on a city street, one wearing a red plaid shirt and the other a blue jacket, with backpacks, engaged in conversation.
Crowd of people celebrating at a Pride parade, holding rainbow flags and wearing rainbow accessories on a city street with tall buildings.
People walking on a city street during a festive event, with a vendor selling colorful feather boas, and some individuals holding drinks, while a young child in a blue jacket and green boots reaches out to a balloon.
A woman with brown hair tied back sitting on a ledge, holding a colorful string with a baby in a stroller nearby. The baby is wrapped in a blanket, wearing a white hat, and looking at the woman. Several children and adults are gathered around in a pa
Young girl walking through a narrow outdoor alleyway between brick buildings with red handrails, wearing a large gray jacket and red patterned shoes.
People at a fairground with colorful decorations and lanterns, including a large yellow and red bull mural, in front of a brick apartment building.
People gathered around a red decorative arch with red lanterns and pink flowers at an outdoor celebration, likely for Chinese New Year.

Am I right for you?

Most commercial shoots start around £350–£900 depending on duration, usage and scope.

Smaller commisions and community-led projects tend to sit at the lower end of that range, while longer or more involved briefs are quoted accordingly.

You might be in the right place if you:

  • prefer real, honest imagery over staged or overly polished setups

  • value the character of your space, products, people or processes

  • want photography that feels lived-in, warm and human

The goal is to create images that feel true to your story — today and years from now.

Ready to capture your story? Let’s talk.

Fill the form in below, or call me on +44(0)780 708 8432