Paul's professional career began in 1984, when he opened a portrait studio in his home town of Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, England. He went on to gain his diploma in Design Photography at the Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Arts and Technology (UK) in 1991. With his new qualification and his sights set on the world stage he headed for London, where he lived and worked, gaining a wealth of professional experience in fashion and advertising photography.
In 1993 he flew to Atlanta, USA to shoot the CD cover and booklet for the hugely successful album “God is Able” by top gospel singer Ron Kenoly.
This marked the start of many assignments for the distinguished Integrity Music label in Mobile, Alabama. Photo-shoots in Nashville, Dallas and Florida followed soon after and since then Paul has worked throughout the world on commissioned photo-assignments for numerous record labels.
During the month of July each year, he teaches photography masterclass workshops at the C A International Seminar in Germany.
Paul Yates has been an active member of the artists group “Das Rad” since 2005. 
In March 2008 he was honoured with an Associateship of The Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain. Paul is married to the flautist Heike Wetzel, they live in Bavaria, Germany.