Photo Editor

Justin Mott

  • Photo Editor

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 Portrait Technique I Use When Everything Goes Wrong

Published: Jul 23, 2026 · Duration: 9 min 20 sec · 5.6K views

Some of my favorite portraits have been made with nothing more than a window. I've relied on this simple technique while photographing New York Times assignments, NGO stories, and commercial campaigns around the world. It works because it strips away distractions and forces you to focus on what actually matters: light, composition, and your subject.
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Previous videos

19

The Photography Career Advice Nobody Gives You

Published: Jul 9, 2026 · Duration: 9 min 46 sec · 2K views

Fifteen years ago, editorial assignments made up about 75% of my income. Today it's around 5%, and I'm not sad about it. I spent years risking my safety for $250 a day, and when things went south for me in one country, a publication I'd given 15 years to didn't have my back.

Dispatches: Moments Are Earned, Not Taken | Northern Vietnam EP. 14

Published: Jul 5, 2026 · Duration: 8 min 58 sec · 966 views

Somewhere in the mountains of northern Vietnam, a young mother let me spend an afternoon in her home. She was part of a massive development project, and my job was to make sure the people at the heart of it didn't get lost in the paperwork. Eleven years later, I'm pulling this assignment out of the archive and telling you how it actually went.

How I Carry a Full Leica Kit Without a Camera Bag

Published: Jul 2, 2026 · Duration: 6 min 13 sec · 2.4K views

Shop Wotancraft Pouches and Bags ( I don't usually get riled up about pouches. Camera bags I will happily talk about for a full episode, I have a whole wall of them, but pouches never made the cut. Then these Wotancraft leather pouches came with me to South Korea for a big shoot, sat in my bag through Seoul, and I kept reaching for them on my days off wandering the city.

The Leica SL3-P Changed My Mind... Maybe.

Published: Jun 25, 2026 · Duration: 14 min 45 sec · 9.3K views

Start your own print store with Pic-Time, the platform I host my entire print store on. Free trial here: Last year I ditched Leica's SL system on camera and I meant it. My SL2 changed its own settings in the middle of a hotel shoot in Japan, one failure on a real paying job, and I was finished with it.

The Only Camera Bag I Decided to Keep This Year

Published: Jun 21, 2026 · Duration: 7 min 9 sec · 4.5K views

Shop Wotancraft Bags ( I almost didn't make this review. Not because the bag was bad. In fact, I've been a fan of Wotancraft's Pilot Series for years.

AI Hasn't Made Me Better. It Gave Me Time To Shoot.

Published: Jun 17, 2026 · Duration: 11 min 28 sec · 2.5K views

Most photographers think using AI means faking a frame or letting a machine retouch your work. After nearly 20 years and over 100 assignments for the New York Times, I can tell you the truth nobody mentions: photography was never the hard part. It's everything around it.

Dispatches: Over-Monking It | Laos — New York Times Assignment EP. 1

Published: Jun 12, 2026 · Duration: 7 min 23 sec · 1.6K views

Over a decade ago I was wedged into a packed minivan somewhere in Laos with a few thousand dollars worth of gear on my lap, on assignment for the New York Times. One foot in photojournalism. The other foot getting pulled toward commercial work that paid a lot better.

Photographers, Start Here — Who I Am and What This Channel Is Really About

Published: Jun 9, 2026 · Duration: 1 min 38 sec · 39K views

If you're new here, watch this first. I'm Justin Mott, an assignment photographer based in Hanoi, Vietnam with nearly 20 years of experience shooting for The New York Times, Fortune 500 companies, and major publications around the world. My conservation work with the last northern white rhinos became part of Leica's global Witness campaign.

Most photography content won't teach you this

Published: Jun 7, 2026 · Duration: 10 min 5 sec · 3.4K views

Most photographers spend their careers chasing perfect light and flawless composition. But the images that actually stay with people — the ones you can still describe years later — often have nothing to do with either. In this video I break down two photographers whose work I have studied for years and use in every workshop I teach.

Leica M11 + Sony A1? My Experimental Kit

Published: May 16, 2026 · Duration: 3 min 41 sec · 925 views

Client approved experimenting with this Leica kit for a commercial photo shoot done in a documentary style but I’m still bringing my Sony A1 just in case. See my favorite camera gear and why here.

This Photo Embarrassed Me - On Assignment for the New York Times

Published: May 13, 2026 · Duration: 2 min 38 sec · 2.2K views

In this episode, I break down a photograph I shot on assignment in Bali for The New York Times and explain why I actually hated this image for years before realizing it taught me one of the most important photography lessons of my career. As photographers, especially Leica photographers, street photographers, documentary photographers, and travel photographers, we often obsess over perfect composition, beautiful…

Photographers - You're Losing Money

Published: May 10, 2026 · Duration: 10 min 59 sec · 3.8K views

One of the biggest mistakes photographers make is not understanding the long-term value of their images. In this video, I break down photography contracts, licensing agreements, image usage rights, AI clauses, and why photographers need to stop giving away unlimited usage for free. Whether you are an amateur photographer, content creator, Leica shooter, commercial photographer, or someone trying to build a…

How to Sell Photography Prints Online - Don't Make These Common Mistakes

Published: Apr 29, 2026 · Duration: 10 min 22 sec · 3.7K views

Try the print store setup I’m currently using. It’s simple, clean, and handles everything in one place. 👉 Start your own Pic-Time print store ( 👉 View my print store and see how I structure everything: In this video, I break down exactly how to set up an online print store as a photographer without wasting time or making costly mistakes.

Photography Ethics Are Broken And No One Is Talking About It

Published: Apr 18, 2026 · Duration: 9 min 18 sec · 7.3K views

Photography ethics matter more than ever. In this episode, I break down a controversial example of staged photography being presented as reality and why that’s a serious problem for both professional and amateur photographers. As photographers, especially those working in documentary, street photography, and travel photography, we carry a responsibility to tell truthful stories.

The Truth About Photography Money, Clients, and Getting Hired

Published: Apr 17, 2026 · Duration: 53 min 52 sec · 37K views

In this episode, I sit down with creative director Tim McGuire to break down the real business of photography. If you’ve ever wondered how commercial photographers get hired, what day rates actually look like, or how big brands choose photographers, this conversation is packed with insight. Tim shares his experience working with major brands like Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, and collaborations with companies like…

You’re Not Improving Because You Ignore This

Published: Apr 14, 2026 · Duration: 4 min 59 sec · 2.8K views

Join the AskMOTT Community Most photographers don’t have a gear problem. They have a thinking problem. In this episode, I break down my core photography principles that will help you instantly improve your photography, whether you are shooting with a Leica, Fuji, Sony, or any camera.

My Leica FAILED on Assignment… Here’s What Happened

Published: Apr 8, 2026 · Duration: 10 min 45 sec · 8.6K views

In this video, I take you behind the scenes of a real editorial photography assignment I shot for Smithsonian Magazine in Cambodia. This is not a highlight reel. This is what professional photography actually looks like when things go wrong.

My 3-Lens System After 20 Years as a Pro Photographer

Published: Mar 24, 2026 · Duration: 10 min 8 sec · 16K views

In this video, I break down the only three focal lengths I’ve relied on throughout my career as a professional photographer: 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm. More importantly, I explain why I choose each lens and how it directly impacts storytelling, composition, and your relationship with your subject. Whether you’re shooting with a Leica M system, Sony, or any camera, understanding focal length is essential to improving your…

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

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