Yes, the Pillsbury Club accepts planned photo and video shoots, but not on a walk-in basis. If you are picturing engagement photos on a carved oak staircase or a portrait session in a house built for a flour baron, the first thing to know is that a planned shoot is a separate reservation from a tour or a night out. Here is how the Club’s own Photo & Video Rentals page describes it, in plain terms.

Exterior of the Pillsbury Club, the historic limestone mansion at 100 East 22nd Street in Minneapolis, a backdrop for engagement and portrait sessions — The Pillsbury Club at 100 East 22nd Street.

What counts as a planned shoot?

Casual photos are fine. The Club says personal pictures taken during your visit are welcome as long as they do not disrupt other guests, staff, tours, dining service or operations. (We covered that side of things in Can You Take Photos Inside the Pillsbury Club?)

A photography or filming reservation is required for anything planned or staged, which the page spells out as:

Engagement photos, wedding portraits, senior photos, family portraits or fashion shoots.
Brand, influencer, commercial, editorial or promotional content.
Any shoot involving a professional photographer, videographer, crew or paid talent.
Any shoot using tripods, lighting, reflectors, microphones, props, wardrobe changes or other production equipment.
Any session where the Club is the primary backdrop or location.

The Club also reserves the right to decide whether a given shoot needs prior approval, and to approve, deny, limit or cancel a request.

How does booking work?

Photography rentals are by advance reservation only, and every session must be approved in writing before you arrive. Walk-in shoots are not permitted. A rental may include access to approved interior and/or exterior areas of the property, depending on availability, guest activity, staffing and the nature of the shoot. Because the Club is also running tours, dining, the market and private experiences, you will want to start the conversation early. The place to begin is the Photo & Video Rentals page.

What kinds of sessions does the Club list?

For photography, the page lists engagement sessions, wedding portraits, senior portraits, family portraits, fashion and editorial work, brand and lifestyle content, professional headshots and small creative sessions. For video, it lists commercial video, promotional content, social media campaigns, interviews, documentary projects, music videos and short-form content. Filming is reviewed case by case, and availability is limited.

The grand carved-oak staircase inside the Charles S. Pillsbury Mansion, a signature interior of the Minneapolis landmark — The carved-oak staircase is one of the house’s best-known features. Whether it is available for a given shoot depends on approval and timing.

What are the house rules for a shoot?

The Club asks everyone on a shoot to protect a historic building that is also open to other guests. The posted guidelines include:

No smoking or vaping inside the building.
No outside food or beverages unless approved in writing.
No glitter, confetti, smoke effects, open flames, adhesives, nails, tape or other materials that may damage surfaces.
No moving furniture, artwork, fixtures, antiques, plants or decor without staff approval.
Wardrobe changes only in approved areas.
No drones without prior written approval.
No photographing or recording guests, employees, performers or guides without their consent.
Equipment must be carried carefully and may not block stairs, hallways, entrances, exits or guest pathways.

If your plan involves a prop or effect that is not on that list, ask before you assume. For the general visitor rules, see What Are the Rules at the Pillsbury Club?.

Why shoot here?

The Pillsbury Mansion was completed in 1916 and later listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Its interiors include genuine centuries-old English oak, stained glass and plaster that you can read about in our History Journal. For a portrait session, that is the difference between a pretty room and a place with a story.

Period photograph of the oak-panelled lounge inside the Pillsbury Mansion in Minneapolis, showing the historic interiors a shoot might feature — A period photograph of the oak-panelled lounge, from the mansion’s early years.

Make it a night out, too

If you are traveling for the shoot, pair it with the rest of the Club: a guided tour or experience, a drink or a bite from the dining menu, or a ride on the trolley that departs from the mansion. Use Plan Your Visit for hours and reservation details, and start your shoot request on the rentals page.

Keep reading: How Did Engineers Rate the Pillsbury Mansion’s Limestone, Chimneys and Garden Walls in December 2023?