Justin Mott

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Justin Mott

@askmott

Justin Mott is an award-winning documentary, editorial and commercial photographer of American origin (Rhode Island) who has lived in Vietnam for almost two decades. With a professional career spanning more than 20 years, he is widely recognized for having carried out more than 100 assignments for The New York Times in Southeast Asia, in addition to collaborating with world-renowned media such as National Geographic, TIME, BBC and The Wall Street Journal. His career also includes a prominent television role as resident photographer and judge on the History Channel's Photo Face-Off program.


Through his educational platform and YouTube channel, AskMOTT, Justin is dedicated to teaching photography from a perspective based on real-world professional experience. Their focus is not on quick tricks or presets, but on helping photographers of all levels develop clarity, intention, and solid habits in their workflow. In addition to his business and teaching work, he is a strong advocate for wildlife conservation, leading long-term projects such as Kindred Guardians, where he documents the efforts of people dedicated to animal and environmental protection.

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Latest video

1

The Truth About Leica M Cameras (From a Pro Photographer)

Published: Mar 18, 2026 · Duration: 15 min 26 sec · 8.9K views

In this video, I share my honest experience using Leica M cameras after years of real-world professional use. This is not a spec review or comparison video—this is a working photographer’s perspective on the Leica M10, M10-D, and M11, pushed to their limits on editorial assignments, personal projects, and commercial shoots. If you’re a Leica photographer, or considering investing in the Leica M system, this video…
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Previous videos

19

The Truth About Being a Professional Photographer (No One Talks About This)

Published: Mar 16, 2026 · Duration: 13 min 16 sec · 3.2K views

What is the real life of a professional photographer? In this episode, photographer Justin Mott shares the honest truth about building a career in photography. While social media often makes photography look glamorous — wildlife adventures, luxury hotels, magazine assignments, and international travel — the reality of being a professional photographer is far more complicated.

How To Be A Terrible Photographer

Published: Mar 2, 2026 · Duration: 12 min 3 sec · 3.3K views

In this episode, I break down how to be a terrible photographer — and more importantly, how to avoid the most common mistakes in wedding photography and professional photography in general. After attending two weddings as a guest, I found myself doing what photographers do best: observing, critiquing, and analyzing everything from lens choice to positioning, movement, communication, editing, and professionalism. If…

My Home Golf Simulator Set Up - Garmin R50

Published: Mar 1, 2026 · Duration: 1 min 49 sec · 735 views

A quick tour of my home golf simulator and putting green using the Garmin R50. I'm a photographer, not a pro golfer, just wanted to share this set up that I had put in at my Hanoi apartment.

Camera Companies Are Making You A Terrible Photographer

Published: Feb 21, 2026 · Duration: 7 min 8 sec · 4.5K views

Shop Wotancraft Bags ( Are camera brands and photography influencers really helping you become a better photographer — or just selling you gear? In this episode, I break down the uncomfortable truth about camera launches, brand ambassadors, YouTube photography influencers, and why many amateur and intermediate photographers plateau after learning the basics. As a professional photographer who has worked inside…

How Amateur Photographers Can Create Meaningful Work

Published: Feb 17, 2026 · Duration: 8 min 31 sec · 3.2K views

In this powerful photography storytelling episode, I share the long-term photojournalism project that changed my life and reshaped how I see meaningful photography. Nearly 20 years ago, I began documenting the lasting effects of Agent Orange in Vietnam. After an early publication in Newsweek, I realized something important: photography doesn’t need awards, major publications, or viral attention to matter.

How This Pro Learned Photography

Published: Feb 12, 2026 · Duration: 6 min 21 sec · 2.1K views

How do you actually get started in photography — without falling into the gear trap? In this episode, I break down the fundamentals of photography for beginners and serious amateurs who want to improve fast. Just the principles that built my 20-year professional photography career.

Photographing Gibbons - Natural Soundtrack

Published: Jan 28, 2026 · Duration: 52 sec · 360 views

This Photo Story Exercise Will Instantly Improve Your Photography

Published: Jan 25, 2026 · Duration: 12 min 36 sec · 5.1K views

In this episode, I break down the single most effective photography exercise I’ve used to consistently improve my work—and the same one I teach in my workshops, one-on-one mentorships, and professional assignments. This isn’t about chasing viral images, trends, or quick wins. It’s about slowing down, building a multi-image story, and learning how to truly see.

The Project That Gave My Photography Purpose Again

Published: Jan 22, 2026 · Duration: 10 min 51 sec · 1.7K views

This episode is about finding purpose in photography and why long-form documentary work still matters in a fast, disposable content world. I revisit one of the most important projects of my career: documenting the last two northern white rhinos on Earth and the caretakers who have devoted their lives to protecting them. After nearly two decades working as a photojournalist—shooting editorial assignments, commercial…

Billingham Ten-16 Review for Leica D-Lux, Fuji X100 & Ricoh GR

Published: Jan 15, 2026 · Duration: 8 min 49 sec · 3.4K views

Compact cameras like the Leica D-Lux, Fuji X100 series, and Ricoh GR have changed how many photographers shoot. Smaller setups mean fewer distractions and more chances to actually carry a camera every day. In this video, I share my honest, real-world review of the Billingham Ten-16 and why it works so well for compact camera users.

Leica Street Photography and the Rise of Soulless Images

Published: Jan 12, 2026 · Duration: 8 min 30 sec · 23K views

Street photography doesn’t have to be about chasing the same visual tricks over and over again. In this episode, I talk about one of the most common and over-rewarded images in amateur street photography: the person walking through a shaft of light. You’ve seen this photo everywhere—monthly camera brand contests, Instagram features, and street photography feeds from Leica, Ricoh, and Fuji shooters.

Wander Alone - The Plight of the Northern White Rhino

Published: Jan 11, 2026 · Duration: 9 min 9 sec · 42K views

We are honored to have been accepted into the International Wildlife Film Festival and to have won the best New Vision Award. Wander Alone chronicles the final chapter of the Northern White Rhinoceros, following Najin and Fatu—the last two living members of their species—after the death of Sudan, the last male, in 2018. Once native to Central Africa, the species was decimated by poaching, leaving these two females…

Why This Travel Bag Makes Sense for Leica (All) Photographers

Published: Jan 9, 2026 · Duration: 10 min 23 sec · 33K views

When you travel for a living as a photographer, bags stop being about looks and start being about problem solving. But every now and then, a bag comes along that does both. In this video, I’m talking about the Grams28 181 Voyager Duffle, with the 132 Essential Case Pro playing a supporting role.

Why Leica Photographers Should Focus on Process, Not Perfect Shots

Published: Dec 21, 2025 · Duration: 6 min 59 sec · 6K views

Most photographers are taught to chase the decisive moment — the hero frame, the one image that says everything. But after covering over 100 assignments worldwide, I’ve learned that some of the most meaningful photography doesn’t come from a single moment at all. It comes from slowing down, paying attention to process, and letting a story quietly unfold.

The Stringer Documentary: My Honest Take on the Famous Leica Napalm Girl Photo

Published: Dec 3, 2025 · Duration: 13 min 50 sec · 5.9K views

In this episode, I dive deep into the controversial new Netflix documentary The Stringer that challenges one of the most iconic Leica photographs in history — the Napalm Girl image. For decades, the world has believed this Pulitzer Prize–winning frame was captured by AP photographer Nick Ut, but new evidence suggests it may have been taken by a Vietnamese stringer, Nguyen Thanh Nghe. As a photographer who has lived…

Leica Travel Photography: Behind the Scenes of a New York Times Assignment

Published: Nov 23, 2025 · Duration: 9 min 26 sec · 3.1K views

Join me on assignment in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, as I take you behind the scenes of a New York Times travel photography story. In this episode, I break down my full workflow as an editorial photographer — from planning, scouting, and navigating unpredictable moments, to creating intentional portraits, environmental storytelling, and documentary-style imagery. You’ll see how I approach photographing a renowned…

A Leica Photographer’s Hard Truths: What You Need (and Don’t Need) in Photography

Published: Nov 15, 2025 · Duration: 8 min 45 sec · 8.6K views

In this episode, I break down the three things you absolutely DON’T need in photography and the three things you DO need if you want real, long-term improvement. This comes from nearly 20 years as a working photographer and Leica shooter who has seen every trend, shortcut, and hype cycle come and go. Whether you’re a Leica photographer, a Leica M shooter, or you simply love the intentional style that Leica inspires,…

How I Help Photographers Fix These 7 Common Mistakes

Published: Nov 7, 2025 · Duration: 8 min 14 sec · 5.4K views

n this video, I share the 7 most common and fixable photography mistakes I see in my workshops, mentorships, and portfolio reviews. These are mistakes I’ve made myself early in my career, and they’re all completely fixable — from sloppy composition and cliché-driven photography to relying too much on your gear or your subject. I’ve been working as a professional photographer for nearly two decades, shooting for…

Plateaued With Your Leica, Fuji, etc. ?

Published: Oct 18, 2025 · Duration: 7 min 26 sec · 2.5K views

Feeling stuck in your photography? Hitting that creative wall where your images just don’t improve anymore? In this episode, professional photographer Justin Mott shares a step-by-step plan to help photographers of all levels grow through personal photography projects.

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