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>>> Paul Brokering, Denver, Colorado

It would probably be an understatement to say that photographer Paul Brokering understands what architects are looking for in an image of their work. In addition to being a skilled shooter, he's also a registered architect, licensed in four states and in practice since the 1970s.

"I learn about architecture from doing photography, and photography from doing architecture," says Brokering. "For me, the processes seem to work both ways." The seeds for Brokering's dual career were planted in his youth, when he was growing up in Denver. "We lived in an urban area, and I was lucky enough to have parents who took us to museums, galleries, parks and concerts," he explains. "We shopped in the classic downtown stores. I think I subconsciously became aware of architecture at a young age. Then, when I graduated from high school, my parents gave me a Mamiya Sekor SLR camera."

Camera in hand, Brokering chose to study architecture in college, a decision he says he made by the eighth grade. He enrolled in the University of Nebraska, because his family had moved to the state when he was 15. Graduating in 1974, he'd already developed an interest in photographing buildings during college architecture trips.

One of Paul Brokering's own architectural projects, The Venue, in Lincoln, Nebraska.

He worked at architectural firms in Nebraska, spending 13 years with one commercial firm that has branch offices around the country. Knowing of his interest in photography, the firm allowed Brokering to travel to different cities to photograph firm projects. In addition to his own project work, Brokering, in essence, became the company's in-house photographer.

"I basically just started shooting and taught myself," he explains. "I have taken some seminars and workshops along the way."

About 15 years ago, Brokering realized he liked the "instant gratification" of photography, as opposed to the months and years it took for a building to come to fruition. He decided to make a break and built himself a photography studio where he lived in Lincoln, Nebraska. "I already knew all the architects around, and I'd been shooting for a lot of them on the side while I did architecture," he says. "Starting a photography business wasn't a huge leap."

The RLDS temple in Independence, Missouri, by HOK.

He counts architects, interior designers, landscape architects, builders and product manufacturers as clients, shooting everything from small residential work to large-scale commercial and governmental work around the country. For the most part, he works alone, but occasionally he uses assistants to help with big projects. "There's a lot of orchestrating when it comes to shooting large buildings," he says.

Last year, Brokering opted to move back to Denver. "It always seemed like home to me, so it was the right thing to do."

While 90 percent of his work is photography and some 10 percent is architecture, he found himself in the position of having to put together an architectural portfolio when he came to Colorado. "Everyone knew me in Nebraska," he explains. "I really didn't need any kind of a portfolio to sell myself." He had to shoot his own projects, a process he laughingly calls "painful."

Northern Colorado Water Conservatory by RB+B Architects, Inc.

"You'd think it would be easy, but it's very hard," he says. "Maybe because I'm not getting paid to shoot my own work."

Nonetheless, business in Denver has been good for him, and he's recently picked up some new clients after exhibiting at the recent Rocky Mountain Designers' Market at the Denver Design District.

When he's not photographing architecture or working on his own architectural projects, Brokering pursues fine-art photography, which he exhibits at area galleries. "It's my therapy," he says, "and a personal passion."

Paul Brokering Photography, Denver, CO; (303) 825-5280 or www.paulbrokering.com.