The aim of this project was to document the social cultural landscape of contemporary Australian family life. Families were photographed within their home environment at the same time each day to reflect the similarities and embrace the diversity within our culture.

This project has been exhibited and awarded internationally, and is held by many galleries, and celebrated for its cultural significance.

The veterans project was undertaken to commemorate 70 years since the end of World War II, and the centenary of the ANZAC tradition. The project includes past and present serving members and across all conflicts. This has been a three year project photographing nearly 300 veterans.

The aim of this project was to create a visual memory for Australian society.

Melissa photographed close to 300 veterans including 180 Reflections photography in her project. Reflections is the biggest photographic project undertaken in Australia to date, with over 7000 WWII veterans photographed and over 420 fellow photographers Australia wide volunteering their time. This project was supported by the National Returned Service League of Australia, The Australian War Memorial, and the Australian Institute of Professional Photography.  

On August 15th 2017 Melissa attended the Australian War Memorial for the launch on the Audio Visual Exhibit, and the handover of images to the AWM. A book on this project will be released in the coming months.

Melissa is currently collating the amazing stories with imagery for her Veterans project and its final format. Her goal is to have the images seen far and wide and engage with community to raise awareness on these amazing men and women and animals that serve for us.

Dog-kind is an ongoing project and study on the relationship between humans and dogs, and their contribution to our lives.

This project has covered various lands and relationships; working dogs, companion dogs, therapy and guard dogs all around the world.  

“I love a sunburnt country,

A land of sweeping plains,

Of ragged mountain ranges,

Of droughts and flooding rains;

I love her far horizons,

I love her jewel-sea,

Her beauty and her terror –

The wide brown land for me!”

By Dorothea Mackellar

Light, energy, movement, growth.

A series reflecting on light and life, and how light enables growth.

This project analyses the sensory experience of flora.

Snowflake is an ongoing project dedicated to documenting and raising awareness on rare conditions such as Myasthenia Gravis, and how they individually impact us. 

If you would like to be included in this project, please email me.

This series analyses our relationship with beaches, and the increasing presence of pollution in these environments. We associate water and beaches as clean, healthy, safe and relaxing environments. This series hopes to challenges those beliefs, and create more awareness on reducing pollution and increasing sustainability.

The images in this series are in camera multiple exposures all shot in the same location to ensure the authenticity of the statement and environment. 

Loud and Luminous is a project celebrating the accomplishments of Australian Women Photographers, co developed and co curated with fellow photographer Hilary Wardhaugh. The project commenced in 2018 with 56 photographers, and in 2019 it included 100 photographers exhibiting on the topic of power and empowerment. We hope this inclusive discussion will create a better world for all genders

Just how much does this biological component impact and define women's lives, our choices and our expectations? 

This is an ongoing project. If you are interested in being part of it, please email me.