Randy Richards originally hails from Chalmette, Louisiana, the location of what is often called the "Battle of New Orleans". His family is originally from Cades Cove, long before the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was created. He currently lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he runs a photography business and writes for publications.

Randy is a game designer and author of Dungeons & Dragons adventures and articles. His first published article, "Dark Magic in New Orleans," appeared in Dungeon issue #71 in 1998; his book, "Dreadmire", a campaign setting for the d20 system, was published by Spellbinder Games in 2006. In 2009, a novel based on his book was published, entitled, "The Dreadmire Chronicles: Knight of the Demon Tree".

Randy Richards has appeared in TV commercials for national companies (such as Cox Cable), and in local TV newscasts in Baton Rouge and New Orleans for his photojournalism. He placed third in the Adult Landscape category of the LUMCON 2006 Bayous of Louisiana photography contest. His Hurricane Katrina photographs are part of the Lousiana Bucket Brigade's "Life in the Wake of Katrina" tour.