Potton, who resides in Nelson, has been active in local government, and stood as a Green candidate in the 1999 and 2002 general elections.

[2][4] From a young age, Potton had an interest in environmentalism and took part in the Save Manapouri campaign while still a student at Nelson College.

[1] Potton worked as a stills photographer on the sets of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Peter Pan (2003), and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005).

[8] Following the death of his father in 2007, Potton has been the co-owner with his older brother, Richard, of State Cinemas in Nelson and Motueka.

[10][11] In the 2013 Queen's Birthday Honours, Potton was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to photography and conservation.