A Library, a Speakeasy, and the Most "Them" Engagement Session We've Ever Shot | Anoka, MN
Fox Tale Photo | Minneapolis Engagement Photographer
Lobby in Anoka , Mn
When Kenzie and Shawn's friends saw the sneak peek from their engagement session, their reaction was simple: "That is so you guys."
That's the goal. That's always the goal.
At Fox Tale Photo, we believe your engagement session shouldn't feel like a photoshoot. It should feel like a really great date night that we happened to tag along on. And for Kenzie and Shawn, that meant two locations in Anoka that told the story of exactly who they are together: the Rum River Library and Nucky's Speakeasy.
Why Location Matters More Than You Think
One of the most common questions we get from couples planning their engagement session in the Minneapolis area is: "Where should we go?"
The honest answer? Wherever you actually love to be.
Scenic parks are beautiful and we love shooting them, but there's something different that happens when a couple is photographed somewhere that genuinely means something to them. Their body language changes. They stop performing for the camera and start just being together. The photos feel less like portraits and more like memories.
That's the philosophy behind every engagement session we plan at Fox Tale Photo. And it's exactly what made Kenzie and Shawn's session so special.
Chapter One: The Rum River Library
We started the afternoon at the Rum River Library in Anoka, MN, and if you haven't been, it's worth a visit for the architecture alone.
Kenzie and Shawn are the kind of couple who go on book dates. They browse shelves together, argue about covers, and lose track of time in quiet corners. So shooting here wasn't just a fun idea, it was genuinely them. The library's staff were incredibly accommodating, helping us find a quieter time to come in so we could work in a low-traffic area of the building. No flash, no disruption to anyone studying or browsing, and no patrons in any of the shots. Just four people who could not stop laughing, doing their best to keep it together in a library.
While Sierra was busy guiding Kenzie and Shawn through prompts and getting them comfortable in the space, Nate was working the technical side: reading the available light, finding compositions, and figuring out how to make those fluorescent-lit library stacks look as warm and inviting as they felt. It's a true team effort, and honestly it's one of our favorite parts of shooting together.
The standout feature of the space is a stunning stained glass window with real historical significance. It was actually transported to the library from another location, and it made for a gorgeous natural backdrop that no studio could replicate.
We leaned hard into the "bookstore aesthetic" throughout this portion of the shoot: framing shots through the stacks, capturing quiet moments with their favorite titles, and a genuinely hilarious shot of one of them reading upside down while the other looked on in exasperated amusement.
The lighting here was a mix of indoor fluorescent and soft window light. Not the most glamorous combination, but a puzzle we love to solve. The key is working with the warmth of the space rather than fighting it, and letting the coziness of the environment do some of the heavy lifting.
Chapter Two: Nucky's Speakeasy
After wrapping up at the library, we made the short drive over to Nucky's Speakeasy at 300 E Main St, Anoka, MN, and if you've never been, you need to fix that immediately.
The entry alone sets the tone: a red door, a riddle to solve before you get in, and the feeling that you've stepped into 1920s Minneapolis. The historic building features a breathtaking lobby with chandeliers, a grand staircase, exposed brick, and some of the warmest, moodiest lighting we've ever had the pleasure of shooting in. The owner was incredibly welcoming and generous with us. Nucky's Speakeasy is the kind of place that genuinely loves being a part of people's stories.
(Side note: their brisket nachos are an absolute must. We may have taken a short creative break to enjoy them. We regret nothing.)
The owner was kind enough to walk us through the space beforehand, point out the best spots, and give us full permission to work the way we needed to. That kind of coordination makes all the difference, and it meant we could focus on the creative side knowing we weren't stepping on anyone's experience. Sierra kept the energy moving between setups, keeping Kenzie and Shawn loose and laughing while Nate experimented with a few different approaches to capture the full range of what this space has to offer:
Direct flash for a high-contrast, paparazzi-inspired editorial look
Off-camera flash with a wireless transmitter to bring out the grit and texture of the interior brick walls
A small constant LED light for close detail shots like the rings, the craft cocktails, and the quiet moments that deserve to be seen clearly
The tonal shift between the library and the speakeasy created a natural visual arc for the gallery. Cozy and playful in the afternoon light, then cinematic and romantic as the evening settled in. It's the kind of variety that makes an engagement gallery feel like a full story rather than a single scene.
And then, completely unplanned, as we were wrapping up and heading out, the moon appeared perfectly framed above the entrance staircase with soft fog rolling in around it. We grabbed the shot. Some of our favorite frames are the ones you can't plan for.
What Made This Session Ours
Kenzie and Shawn brought everything to this session: genuine warmth, easy laughter, zero self-consciousness, and an enthusiasm for their own story that made our job feel less like work and more like a privilege.
They're getting married in the fall of 2026, and we genuinely cannot wait to be there for it.
If you're a couple planning your wedding in the Minneapolis area and you want your engagement session to feel like you, not just pretty but real, we'd love to hear your story.
Plan Your Own Meaningful Engagement Session
Every couple has places that matter to them. A coffee shop where you had your first real conversation. A trail you walk together on Sunday mornings. A bar where you always end up when you need to celebrate something. Those places deserve to be in your photos.
We specialize in storytelling engagement photography throughout Minnesota and the greater Minneapolis area and we love nothing more than building a session around the real chapters of your relationship.
