Kevin Rabalais: Documentary Photographer of the Year
Kevin Rabalais, contributor for Louisiana Life, Acadiana Profile and 64 Parishes magazines, received the 2026 Documentary Photographer of the Year award as part of eight total Bright Lights Awards from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities.
The Documentary Photographer of the Year award honors photographers whose work captures Louisiana’s history, culture or people.
“Images tell the story of a place in a way that nothing else can,” said Miranda Restovic, president and executive director of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. “Through his photographs, Kevin has shared Louisiana’s culture and people with the world.”
His Recent Work in Louisiana Life
Rabalais is a long-standing author and photographer for Louisiana Life magazine. His work has been on the cover of issues, and he has covered unique stories in a beautiful, in-depth way. Some of his recent work includes:
- A Look Inside Louisiana’s Courir de Mardi Gras
- Cover for Jan-Feb 2026 Issue
- Three Remain: Les Petites Maisons of Istre Cemetery
- The Wonders of White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area
- A Poetic Place: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “Evangeline” and St. Martinville
- Duck Hunting in Louisiana
- Cover for July-Aug 2025 Issue
- The top-read digital magazine story for Louisiana Life in 2025
Why Kevin Rabalais was Selected
The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities accepts nominations from the public. Those nominations then go to a committee made up of photographers and others with experience in the field. Ultimately, the committee chooses the awardee.
In his nomination materials, the depth and breadth of Rabalais’s work documenting all facets of life across Louisiana and his reach to international audiences were consistently mentioned as reasons he should be selected for the award.
“He has tirelessly traversed our state, sharing both our hardships and our celebrations from nearly every corner in a way that helps people better understand who we are,” said Restovic.
Rabalais will be recognized with the other Bright Lights Awards recipients at the LEH’s annual Bright Lights Awards Dinner on Tuesday, March 24, at the Capitol Park Museum in Baton Rouge. Tickets are available online at leh.org/bright-lights.
