Light to control DC Motor

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OK, your setup() determines a low level. In loop you compare against that low level using '=='. Chances that the sensorValue is exactly that low level are not that big. You might want to use '<=' instead

void loop() {
  sensorValue = analogRead(A0);
  if (sensorValue <= sensorLow) {
    ...
    ...
  }
  else
  {
    ...
    ...
  }

You might also want to add a bit of play (hysteresis).

You can add some debugging to your code (use serial.println) and use serial monitor to display values that you have measured.

int sensorValue;
int sensorLow = 1023;
int sensorHigh = 0;
const int ledPin = 13;
const int motorPin = 9;

void setup() {

  Serial.begin(9600);

  pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);
  while (millis() < 5000) {

    sensorValue = analogRead(A0);
    if (sensorValue > sensorHigh) {
      sensorHigh = sensorValue;
    }
    if (sensorValue < sensorLow) {
      sensorLow = sensorValue;
    }
  }

  Serial.print("sensorLow = "); Serial.println(sensorLow);
  Serial.print("sensorHigh = "); Serial.println(sensorHigh);


  digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);
}


void loop() {
  sensorValue = analogRead(A0);

  Serial.print("sensorValue = "); Serial.println(sensorValue);

  if (sensorValue <= sensorLow + 5) {  <---------------------- added a bit of hysteresis
    digitalWrite(motorPin, HIGH);
  }
  else {
    digitalWrite(motorPin, LOW);
  }
}

No idea about phototransistors so can't advise there; this is just the coding part.