David Haddon Potts was born in Sydney and proceeded from high school to war service with the RAAF in 1944. From an amateur interest in photography Potts took up further training in this field under the Repatriation Scheme in 1945. From 1946-47, Potts gained practical experience at the Department of Medical Illustration at Sydney University. From there he went to work for the commercial illustration studio of Russell Roberts Pty Ltd.

In 1950 Potts joined the studio of leading fashion and commercial photographers Laurie Le Guay and John Nisbeft. Later that year, however, Potts left to go to London and seek work in the field of photo-journalism. For the next five years he worked on varied professional assignments in London, Israel and Cyprus for The Observer, Picture Post and Life magazines. On his return to Sydney in 1955, Potts continued to do assignments for Time-Life as well as general freelance work. He was a member of the Six Photographers group exhibition of work in the documentary tradition, held in 1955 at Farmers.

Potts operated his own studio in Sydney from 1960-65. Since then he has continued to live in Sydney but has not been active in professional photography. His work had an emotional mood and sensitivity unusual in Australian photo-journalism of the time.