Meet Maddie Mott | Photographer & Grad Student

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maddie Mott and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maddie, what are you inspired by?
Nature! It feels cliche to say it, but I’ve always been inspired by the beauty that surrounds us, from plants to animals, land formations, and even people! I remember when I was a kid, sometime in early elementary school, one of my classes did a photography segment where we got to walk around with the old disposable film cameras on a mini-field trip and take pictures. I absolutely loved it! I was gifted my first point-and-shoot camera by my parents not long after that, and I’d take it with me everywhere, especially the zoo. A few years later I bought my dad’s old Canon Rebel T1i off of him and took an introduction to photography course through virtual school but I ended up taking a hiatus from it for several years. I used to dream of being a photographer for National Geographic as a kid, but life got in the way and I didn’t pick up the camera again until college. At the time I was at a low point mentally and decided that in order to get back on track to feeling happier, I needed to get back in touch with my roots and the things that bring me joy, so I packed up my camera and went out to take photos of a vivid Florida sunset at one of my favorite spots. Despite not touching the camera for years I was thrilled with how well the shots turned out. More importantly, I realized that it brought me peace to go out and enjoy the beautiful scenes our planet has to offer, and it brought me happiness to share these experiences with other people. Since then, the rest is history.
Lately, I’ve found inspiration in the work of other photographers. I love seeing styled photoshoots with models, and seeing the world through the eyes of others. There’s so many different aesthetics and styles out there, and I love to find ideas for new locations and themes from all the other artists out there! I’m actually beginning to get into film photography because I fell in love with film after seeing the work of other talented artists, I’m hoping to be able to share some of that soon!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I wouldn’t call myself a professional just yet, but I’ve definitely learned a lot along the way to where I am now! The biggest thing I’ve learned so far, and I’m sure many artists would agree, is that art is a powerful tool for healing. For me, photography is a way to share not only what’s in my mind’s eye, but what captures my heart and soul. There are challenges of course, such as creative blocks or learning curves, like I’m experiencing now with film, but these are challenges that can easily be overcome with a little time and patience. That’s another thing I’ve learned along the way too, patience. I’m not a very patient person by nature but photography has helped me to find my center and take things as they come, one at a time, just like taking it slowly to find that perfect shot. I suppose if I had to find one thing that sets me apart from others, or perhaps one thing that I’d like people to know about my brand in general is that I like to dabble in a little bit of everything. I’m just starting out and my brand is relatively new, so I love to explore all sorts of styles and themes! I haven’t yet found my niche, but maybe not having one is exactly my cup of tea! As a new creative, my mission presently is to continue to share my photos with others so that they can see some of the beautiful things the world has to offer that they might not otherwise get to experience. Someday I’d love to sell my prints, and maybe publish a book of photos with historical & geographical information about each of the locations, but until then I’ll just share my photos for others to enjoy.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m a Florida native so I’m not sure I’d be the best tour guide, but if I were to take my best friend to Arizona I’d have to take them to all of the amazing spots I just visited! In Page, I’d recommend visiting Antelope Canyon for sure. Dixie’s Lower Antelope Canyon Tour Company was amazing, I’d highly recommend their tour to anyone visiting the area! The land is owned by the Navajo Nation, so rules and regulations are a bit different than those of the national parks but it was an incredible experience and our guide was very kind, I’m super gratefu to have experienced it.Most of the photos from Arizona I have up right now on my Instagram are from said tour. Also, I’d have to recommend taking a dune buggy tour through the desert in Page. Epic Adventure Rides offers off-road UTV tours and I had such an amazing time! The guides are incredibly nice and funny, and it was a great experience all-around. Of course, while you’re in Arizona you absolutely have to visit the Grand Canyon! I’d recommend the biking tour along the rim of the Canyon. The ride isn’t too long, and there are plenty of stops along the way for hydration, photos, and to learn about the foliage and canyon formation! The guides are amazing, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! While you’re there, I’d definitely recommend dining at El Tovar, the food and service was excellent and you get a view of the canyon while dining!
Around the Sedona area, I’d recommend stopping at Camp Verde to observe the ruins of the cliff dwellers, as well as the beautiful Arizona sycamore trees that grow abundantly in the area, they’re absolutely beautiful! Bell Rock Park is a good place to visit as well, the views of the sedimentary rock formations are amazing, and there are some nice walking trails in the area as well.
These next spots aren’t in Arizona, but they’re so close that it’d be absurd not to take advantage of the opportunity to visit. My trip was kind of a big loop through Arizona over towards Utah & then back again, but if you find yourself out near Utah I’d definitely recommend visiting Bryce Canyon & Mt. Zion National Park. The rock formations are incredible, and somehow so different from those in Arizona, but they’re beautiful all the same. Not to mention, the forests and waterways in Mt. Zion just add to the beauty.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my parents, especially my dad. Both of my parents have been incredibly supportive of me in the pursuit of my hobbies and passions, photography being one of them. I remember when they gave me my first digital point-and-shoot, it was a small black Polaroid with silver trim & a silver/gray wristband attached to it, and that’s what started it all. I’d like to recognize my dad, however, for his support by beginning his photography journey with me. If he hadn’t started his journey with me, I never would’ve bought his Canon Rebel T1i off of him, and let alone his old Canon60D that I now work with. From the research he’s done on camera gear, to the lenses his gifted me, to the feedback we give each other when we share our photos, he’s been such an incredible support every step of the way and I truly believe I wouldn’t be where I’m at now with photography if it weren’t for him.

Instagram: @maddiemottphotography