Snapshot of the Man Behind the Official Photos

The freshly elected leader stepped into the makeshift photo studio with tears still running down her face, smudging her makeup.

Moments earlier at the General Conference (GC) Session she had been voted into a key leadership position, changing her life in an instant. Dave Sherwin greeted her with the calm patience that comes from decades of understanding how tender these first moments can be. 

He knew exactly how to handle them. As lead photographer for the Adventist Review Sherwin was responsible for capturing all the official portraits of newly elected leaders, often just minutes after their lives have been upended by a vote. It is a role that demands both technical skill and a gentle respect for the weight of the moment.

This year’s gathering in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, marked the eighth time Sherwin has covered the global session, a journey that began in 1985 when he was fresh out of college and working entirely with black-and-white film.

Darkrooms to Digital

Back then he and a colleague took turns rushing from the floor to the darkroom, often working all night to process rolls of negatives. Partway through the session, editors decided to publish their first color cover. Sherwin had to catch a taxi to go an hour away to a one-hour photo lab, wait for prints, then hurry them back so the Adventist Review’s bulletin could be shipped to Maryland for printing.

“That first color cover came out really nice,” he said. “It was simpler times in some ways, but also a lot crazier.”

Today Sherwin’s work is fully digital, with images reviewed on the spot and delivered to editors in minutes. Preparing for this session started long before he arrived in St. Louis. From his home base in Berrien Springs, Michigan, he planned what he would take: monitors, lighting gear, backdrops, and nearly a vanful of equipment. He packed five computers to guard against failures—a precaution that proved necessary when one machine crashed early in the session.

“We even rented about US$100,000 worth of lenses,” Sherwin said. “I took out insurance just to cover all that.”

Never a Routine Day

Most days start around 7:00 a.m. with worship alongside the Adventist Review team. Afterward, photographers huddle with editors to plan assignments. Sherwin’s studio becomes a revolving door of leaders, spouses, and families. His wife, Jane, is often at his side to help keep track of studio appointments. In 2022 he took nearly 150 headshots and expects a similar number this year, though he will finish up missing portraits at end-of-year meetings at the GC’s Maryland headquarters.

The job is rarely predictable. During a recent lunch a message came in urgently requesting a photographer. One of Sherwin’s team members jumped up, left his plate on the table, and ran off with his camera to catch the moment before returning to finish his meal.

“That happens all the time,” Sherwin said matter-of-factly. “We try to plan, but a lot of it is just being ready to grab your gear and go.”

Beyond portraits he finds time to roam the floor and capture candid scenes from worship services, business meetings, and cultural processions.

“I love the photojournalism side of this,” he remarked. “Getting out there and seeing people, catching real expressions, that’s the best part. The long business sessions are tough. We can get pretty bored waiting for something to happen. But when there’s a key vote or [on Sabbath when] delegates parade through in their dress clothes, it gets exciting fast.”

Personal Roots and Global Family

Sherwin grew up in Pakistan, where his father served as a missionary. For him these sessions are also a kind of reunion. As he hurries through crowded hallways loaded with cameras and lenses, he is often stopped by someone calling his name.

“It’s like a giant family gathering,” he said fondly. “I’m too busy to have long talks, but it’s special to see people from all over the world.”

Perhaps most rewarding is mentoring younger photographers. Two of his former students from Andrews University, where he taught for decades until his retirement in May, are now working professionals, and part of his team this year.

“I know what they can do. I trust them,” he said as he proudly glanced over at them processing their photos. “It feels good to see them out here doing what they love too.”

Sherwin laughed when summing up the daily swings of the job. “You go from tearing your hair out to being bored out of your mind. But I wouldn’t trade it. I still love taking pictures.”

The original version of this story was posted on Lake Union Herald.