Cocktail Bar Engagement Photos at The Tack Room in Chicago

Aug 22

POV: You and your partner decided to take your engagement photos at a place that already holds a piece of your story.

That’s exactly what my clients did recently at The Tack Room at Thalia Hall in Chicago.

I’ve always wanted to photograph an engagement session at a cocktail bar because every bar has its own unique atmosphere, personality, and aesthetic. When my clients told me they wanted to take their engagement photos at The Tack Room, I loved the idea even more because it was a place where they had one of their first dates.

Why Choose a Cocktail Bar for Engagement Photos?

Engagement photos don't have to take place in a traditional outdoor location. Sometimes, the most meaningful setting is somewhere that is already part of your history together.

A cocktail bar can be especially fun because it gives your photos a completely different look and feel.

Think:

🍸 A cozy and intimate atmosphere
🕯️ Unique lighting and decor
🥂 Drinks and candid moments
🎶 A fun, relaxed environment
❤️ A location that may already hold sentimental meaning for you

And if you already have a favorite bar or restaurant in mind, tell your photographer! One of my favorite parts of being a photographer is taking an idea from a couple and figuring out how we can make it happen.

Planning an Engagement Session at a Bar

Once my clients told me they wanted The Tack Room, I reached out to the venue to find out if they allowed professional photography, if there were any fees, and what rules we would need to follow.

Once they confirmed they would be happy to host us, I worked with the staff team to plan the session while making sure my clients understood the venue's terms and conditions.

This is an important step if you're considering a cocktail bar for your engagement photos. Every venue may have different policies, fees, and scheduling requirements.

Some locations may also charge a fee if you want to photograph before opening hours so that you can have the space without a crowd.

Things to Consider

📞 Reach out ahead of time to see if professional photography is allowed.
💰 Possible photography or location fee.
⏰ Think about having your session before or after business hours.
👥 Consider how busy the bar normally gets.
📋 Make sure you understand the venue's rules and requirements.

Our Session at The Tack Room

For this session, we decided to photograph 30 minutes before opening, which gave us plenty of time and space to capture everything we wanted without worrying about a crowd.

I arrived a little early so I could say hello to the staff and take some time to figure out where I wanted to photograph the couple.

Once my clients arrived, they were able to order drinks and simply enjoy being together.

Of course, I still provided posing guidance throughout the session, but I also wanted them to relax and enjoy the environment. Having a drink in their hands helped make the experience feel natural rather than overly posed—and it gave us some really fun candid moments.

Is The Tack Room a Good Choice for Engagement Photos?

If you're looking for something a little different from the typical park or city engagement session, I would absolutely recommend considering The Tack Room as one of your choices.

It's a great option for couples who want their engagement photos to feel intimate, stylish, and maybe even personal if you’ve been there before. And because it was already part of my clients' story, the photos ended up feeling even more meaningful.

If you and your partner have a favorite cocktail bar, restaurant, coffee shop, or other location that holds a special place in your relationship, don't be afraid to ask your photographer if you can incorporate it into your engagement session.

I had such a great experience working with the staff team and photographing this couple there. I can't wait to go back for another session!

Jesse Leon

My name is Jesse Leon, and I’m originally from Woodstock, Illinois. Growing up, I always loved movies, but I never imagined working in the film industry or becoming a filmmaker myself. That changed during my sophomore year of high school when I took a multimedia production class and discovered my passion for working with cameras. I loved filming as a way to document the world around me.

One day, my professor encouraged me to start thinking about life after high school. At the time, I hadn’t considered any colleges, but she introduced me to Columbia College Chicago—a school known for its strong programs in media, film, and the arts. I was inspired by the creative freedom Columbia offered, and in December 2021, I received an email notifying me that I had been accepted for the Fall 2022 semester. I was thrilled, and I couldn’t have imagined the journey that was about to begin.

During my first semester, I enrolled in a class called Film and Television Production. For our final project, we had the choice to create a short documentary on a subject of our choice or direct a short scripted film. Directing a scripted film didn’t appeal to me as much, so I decided to make a documentary about my older brother, who had recently become a father at 19. Although I had never made or even watched many documentaries before, I was drawn to the idea of observing real life through the camera lens. That curiosity motivated me to teach myself how to film and edit a documentary.

After completing the project and sharing it with my class, I discovered a new passion—telling stories through real experiences. I realized that documentaries offer a powerful way to explore our society and humanity as a whole. Through this passion, I also began to gravitate toward photography. I hadn’t taken many photos before, but filmmaking helped me recognize photography as another way to document the world.

Through both filmmaking and photography, I’ve learned the importance of capturing the moments that define our lives—the celebrations, the milestones, the love. These memories, preserved through a photograph or a film, can live on forever. That’s what draws me so deeply to these art forms: their power to tell human stories and preserve them for generations to come.