Portraits of Acadia: Brady Richards

Brady Richards, Visual Information Specialist, wearing a camera backpack while hiking around Eagle Lake. NPS photo by Brady Richards

I was a seasonal Visual Information Specialist at Acadia National Park. This was my first season at Acadia, but I have been working for the National Park Service since 2021. My two previous parks were Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve and Mesa Verde National Park—where I worked as an interpretive park ranger, giving ranger programs and staffing the visitor center information desk.

I always dreamed of working for the National Park Service since I was a child. I have fond memories of my family’s annual summer vacations, where instead of visiting beaches and cities. My family’s vacations always consisted of driving across the country to explore various national parks. I have seen dozens and dozens of them over the years, and I always admire and find a source of inspiration about how unique each park is. No two parks are alike.

My love of photography began around the same time. I first tried using my parents camera during a trip to Badlands National Park in South Dakota when I asked if I could borrow their Nikon D60. Later as a high school senior, I bought my first camera—Canon Rebel T6. And well, that officially began my journey in photography.

A collage of some of Brady's favorite images from the 2024 season. NPS photos by Brady Richards

Throughout the season, I dedicated much of my time to photographing and documenting various activities and events within Acadia National Park from the park’s perspective. I captured the work of numerous departments, taking thousands of images that ranged from prescribed burns and children participating in educational programs to invasive plant species removal on smaller park-owned islands. These images will enhance the park’s image library for years to come, raising the overall quality of its imagery. I am proud of my contributions and look forward to seeing how these images will be used in the future.

I regularly updated the park’s website and contributed to Acadia National Park’s social media accounts, including

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