Home> Blog > ProU

Lens and Soul | Meet Justin Mott

Author: Libby - Printique by Adorama

Some photographers follow a carefully planned path. Justin Mott chose a different route—one powered by instinct, storytelling, and what he calls “irrational confidence.”With one year left in his photojournalism degree at San Francisco State University, Justin packed his camera and flew to Vietnam for what he considered an informal “self-education.” He expected an adventure. Instead, he found a calling.

Tell Us About Yourself

I’m Justin Mott— an editorial and commercial photographer who’s been based in Vietnam for almost 20 years. In that time, I’ve covered over 100 diverse assignments for The New York Times and photographed global ad campaigns all over the world for Fortune 500 companies.

I’m calm and confident whether leading large-scale commercial productions or navigating complicated editorial assignments. Clients trust me to guide complex shoots with ease, balancing logistics and creativity to deliver visuals that work seamlessly and tell stories with impact.

When I’m not working, I’m usually with my wife and our three rescue dogs, or out on my bike. I’ve completed multiple IronMan races… but I definitely don’t look the part.

I always make time for personal projects, especially around wildlife conservation. One of my proudest moments was having my story on the last two northern white rhinos featured in Leica’s global Witness Campaign. I’m also an ambassador for Helping Rhinos, because animals have always had my heart.

I love working with natural light, finding real stories in every project, and connecting with people along the way. I’m calm under pressure, easy to work with, and genuinely love what I do.

How did you get your start in photography?

I went to San Francisco State University, which had a fantastic photojournalism department. Back then, my dream was to shoot for The New York Times. With about a year left before graduation, I took what I like to call a “sabbatical of sorts” and traveled to Vietnam with my camera. I figured I’d try some self-education in a foreign country, find stories, and see what happened. I’ve always lived life pretty loosely and with irrational confidence that I can make things work out with hard work.

I fell in love instantly—both with the place and the storytelling. I built a small body of work here in Hanoi, landed an assignment with The New York Times in Malaysia, and instead of heading back to finish my degree, I decided to stick around and ride the momentum. Fast forward 20 years later: no diploma on my wall, but over 100 assignments for the NYT and my own production company, Mott Visuals. Vietnam became home, and honestly, I wouldn’t trade that “unfinished degree” for the life I’ve built. I learned a lot at school so I don’t want to discredit my education, but I also learned a ton by diving in head first.

What are you currently photographing?

This week I’m on a commercial shoot in Australia for an American client whose name I can’t share, NDA signed. Beyond that, I’m always chipping away at my long-term project Kindred Guardians, documenting the bond between humans and animals. One highlight was photographing the last two northern white rhinos and their caretakers—both heartbreaking and inspiring.

How did you end up photographing this particular niche?

Honestly, I’ve always been drawn to the connection between people and animals and I’m inspired people who dedicate their live to helping animals and I love telling these types of stories.

What is your gear/workhorses?

For personal work, I keep it simple with a Leica M system and M lenses—it slows me down and makes me more intentional. For commercial jobs and video, I lean on Sony gear. It’s versatile, reliable, and available wherever I travel in case I run into any issues with my gear.

Tips for photographers just starting out?

When you admire another photographer’s work, don’t obsess over what gear they used. Ask yourself why their images resonate, how they got there, and what choices they made. I could hand my Leica to my mom, and trust me, she’s not producing the same images (sorry, Mom).

What do you print and why?

I really got serious about printing with my Kindred Guardians project. One of my images of the last two northern white rhinos and their caretakers ended up in a Leica global ad campaign and sparked a ton of demand. That pushed me to launch my own print store to help fund my personal work.

I use Printique to handle the backend, and it’s been a lifesaver. Living in Vietnam but selling mostly to a U.S. audience, I needed a seamless solution—and Printique integrates perfectly with Squarespace. What used to feel intimidating and overwhelming suddenly became easy. I was so worried about qualiy and complaints not being able to see the prints before they shipped but over 5 years using the service and not one single complaint.

We’re incredibly grateful to Justin for sharing his story, his wisdom, and his heart with us. His journey is a powerful reminder that there’s no single path to success in photography—only passion, persistence, and a willingness to dive in head first. From conservation storytelling to building a global print business from thousands of miles away, Justin continues to inspire us and countless others in the creative community. Thank you, Justin, for trusting Printique with your work—and for showing the world what’s possible when purpose meets craft.