Marco & Rachel’s Pinnacles and Lancelin Pre-Wedding Photoshoot

Marco and Rachel’s Pinnacles and Lancelin pre-wedding photoshoot brought them back to Western Australia, where their story first began.

Originally from Taiwan and now living in Brisbane, they first met while working around Bunbury and Donnybrook. When they returned to WA together, they wanted their photos to hold a connection to that chapter of their lives while taking them somewhere they had never explored before.

Their day began among the unusual limestone formations of the Pinnacles before finishing in the white dunes of Lancelin at sunset. Two completely different landscapes, two contrasting outfits and, as it turned out, a fairly enthusiastic amount of wind.

Returning to Western Australia, Where They First Met

Western Australia was already part of Marco and Rachel’s relationship long before we planned this shoot. They first met while working around Bunbury and Donnybrook before eventually making Brisbane home.

Returning to WA gave them a chance to celebrate how far they had come together.

I initially suggested Margaret River because of its forests, coastline and connection to the South West. Marco and Rachel loved the idea, but they wanted this trip to show them somewhere new.

Instead of retracing places they already knew, they chose to head north from Perth and experience the Pinnacles and Lancelin together for the first time.

If you’re deciding between the two regions, my guide to choosing a pre-wedding location in Western Australia explains the differences between Lancelin and Margaret River.

The Desert Package from Perth

Marco and Rachel chose the Desert Package from my Indian Ocean Road Collection, which explores the landscapes north of Perth.

Although the Pinnacles Desert in Nambung National Park and the Lancelin Sand Dunes both have a desert feel, they look completely different in photographs.

The Pinnacles is warm and rugged, with golden sand and thousands of limestone formations rising from the ground. Lancelin feels softer and more open, with rolling white dunes and very little visual distraction.

Together, they give you plenty of variety without trying to squeeze too many unrelated locations into the day.

Marco and Rachel’s February Timeline

I met Marco and Rachel at their Perth hotel at 12:30 pm and led them north towards the Pinnacles. Their day unfolded like this:

• 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm: Travel from Perth to the Pinnacles
• 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm: Pre-wedding photography at the Pinnacles Desert
• 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm: Outfit change and buffer
• 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm: Travel from the Pinnacles to Lancelin
• 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm: Photography at the Lancelin Sand Dunes
• Around 7:30 pm: Begin the return drive
• Around 9:00 pm: Expected arrival back in Perth

We photographed for approximately 90 minutes at each location, but the experience itself took most of the day. The travel, outfit change and sunset all needed to fit together so we could enjoy both locations without rushing.

The starting time changes throughout the year. I plan each itinerary backwards from sunset so we arrive at the final location when the light is at its best.

You can learn more in my guide to what to expect during a Perth pre-wedding shoot.

A Playful Bridal Look at the Pinnacles

Rachel began in a white bridal gown with lace sleeves, a sparkling headpiece and a bouquet of cream, blush and soft pink flowers. Marco wore a crisp white shirt with dark trousers.

They then added matching denim jackets and sunglasses, which changed the whole feel of the outfits.

The look was still bridal, but it didn’t feel overly formal. It felt fun, relaxed and far more like the two of them as they explored the Pinnacles together.

The sunglasses were also genuinely useful in the bright February light. Instead of asking Marco and Rachel to squint their way through the session, we made them part of the look.

We kept this part of the shoot playful and focused on movement. I encouraged them to walk, laugh and explore rather than stand stiffly between the limestone formations.

The Pinnacles already has enough drama of its own. The couple doesn’t need to perform for it.

A Dramatic Transformation at Lancelin

After leaving the Pinnacles, Marco and Rachel changed outfits before we continued to Lancelin.

Rachel swapped her white bridal gown for a strapless deep-red dress. Marco changed into a black shirt with light trousers, keeping his outfit simple so the red could do the heavy lifting.

Against the white dunes, Rachel’s dress immediately became the focus.

It also changed the mood of the shoot. The Pinnacles photos were bright, playful and relaxed. Lancelin became bolder, more intimate and more editorial.

This is why two outfits can work so well during a pre-wedding shoot. The change should do more than provide another set of clothes. It should give each location its own personality.

My guide to planning one or two pre-wedding looks explains how to create that contrast.

Working with the Wind at Lancelin

Lancelin was windy. Very windy.

At times, we moved into lower sections of the dunes to give Marco and Rachel some protection. When the wind eased, we moved back into the open and used it to create movement through Rachel’s dress.

There’s not much point arguing with the weather out there. Lancelin usually wins.

The better approach is to adjust when needed and use the conditions when they add something to the photographs. The wind lifted the train of Rachel’s gown and created exactly the movement we wanted.

Marco and Rachel kept their sunglasses on for much of the Lancelin session. They helped with the bright light and blowing sand while giving the outfits a confident, editorial edge.

As sunset approached and the light softened, they took them off.

Those final portraits naturally felt quieter and more personal. It gave us a beautiful way to finish the day after all the colour, wind and movement.

Why Choose a Pinnacles and Lancelin Pre-Wedding Photoshoot?

The best part about combining the Pinnacles and Lancelin is that each location brings something different.

The Pinnacles gave Marco and Rachel a warm, playful beginning with their white outfits, denim jackets and colourful bouquet. Lancelin gave them a cleaner, more dramatic setting where the red gown and wind could take over.

We didn’t need to add another stop simply for the sake of having more photos. Two carefully chosen locations gave them plenty of variety while still allowing time to settle into the experience.

After all, your pre-wedding shoot should feel like a day you shared together, not an Amazing Race audition with better outfits.

My guide to how many pre-wedding locations you really need explores this in more detail.

Do You Need to Stay in Lancelin?

You don’t need to stay overnight in Lancelin for the Desert Package. Marco and Rachel travelled from Perth and returned after the shoot.

Summer sunsets are late, though, so you should expect a long day and an evening drive home. For a February session, you may not arrive back in Perth until around 9:00 pm.

I recommend keeping the rest of the evening free and bringing plenty of water and snacks for the drive.

If you’re visiting from overseas or interstate, my destination pre-wedding shoot guide will help you plan your accommodation, transport and recovery time around the session.

Pinnacles and Lancelin Pre-Wedding Photoshoot FAQs

Can we visit the Pinnacles and Lancelin on the same day?

Yes. The two locations can be combined, but it should be treated as a full-day experience. Marco and Rachel’s itinerary began at 12:30 pm and ended with their return to Perth at approximately 9:00 pm.

How much photography time do we need?

Marco and Rachel had approximately 90 minutes at each location. Their schedule also included a 30-minute outfit-change buffer and one hour of travel between the Pinnacles and Lancelin.

Should we bring two outfits?

Two outfits work especially well when they create different moods. Marco and Rachel moved from a white bridal look with matching denim jackets to a red gown and darker editorial styling. The contrast made the final gallery feel far more varied.

Do we need accommodation in Lancelin?

No. You can return to Perth after the shoot, although the late sunset during summer may mean arriving back at around 9:00 pm.

What should we bring for a February shoot?

Bring water, sunscreen, comfortable shoes for walking over soft sand, sunglasses and a small hair and makeup touch-up kit.

Sunglasses can be useful in the bright light and wind, and they can also become part of the styling.

Planning Your Own Desert Pre-Wedding Adventure

Marco and Rachel returned to Western Australia because it was where their relationship began.

By choosing the Pinnacles and Lancelin, they found a way to honour that history while experiencing somewhere completely new together.

Their day moved from golden limestone formations and a playful bridal look to white dunes, a red gown and a windswept sunset. It felt relaxed, varied and designed around who they were.

If the forests and coastline of Margaret River aren’t quite your style, my Desert pre-wedding experience offers something completely different.

Get in touch with Moments by Naz and tell me how you want your session to feel. We’ll shape the locations, outfits and itinerary around the two of you, while leaving enough room for the light, weather and beautifully unpredictable parts of Western Australia to play their part.