Meet the Team
Melanie Summer – Managing Owner
Melanie Summer was born in Germany. Her career started in Real Estate. In 1994 she embarked on a three year sailing trip around the world resulting in her permanent move to Australia. Melanie lived in the Whitsundays where she founded and operated a successful bookkeeping business. In 2004 Melanie and her daughter came to the Sunshine Coast where Melanie worked as the financial controller for one of the major local town-planning practices until she founded Flash Fotos in 2005.Melanie is also Master Practitioner in Clinical Hypnotherapy & NLP, a Successful Coach, Co-founder of the Mind Design Centre and Inspirational Speaker. She is finalist of the SCBWN Award 2010 and believes we each have the ability to learn how to Design and Empower our Lives!
Gemma Houghton – Assistant Manager
Gemma was born in Sydney but has lived on the Sunshine Coast most of her life. After finishing high school she moved back to Sydney to do her Make Up Artistry course. Not long after completion of her certificate in 2004 Gemma started working with Flash Fotos. Gemma has worked for Flash Fotos for almost 6 years now – excluding a year-long break she took when she moved to London. She has travelled a lot with Flash Fotos as a Make Up Artist, however she is now working as Flash Fotos Assistant Manager and is loving it. She is also currently near completion of her Diploma in Business Management and is eager to learn all about business. Gemma loves working at Flash Fotos and is excited about the business and watching it grow.
Teresa Clements – Accounts
Teresa has lived on the Sunshine Coast for most of her life, she has worked in large organisations on the Sunshine Coast after finishing high school, however she caught the travel bug and headed off to Europe for a year. Teresa has seen many parts of the world, but has returned back to the Sunshine Coast where she will settle. Teresa has joined the Flash Fotos team as the Accounts Manager, she enjoys the challenge of her position everyday. Teresa has learnt alot about the photography industy and loves being part of a National Award Winning Company.
Kerri Jacobsen – Team Leader Bookings Manager
Kerri has lived in Queensland all her life. She moved to the Sunshine Coast in 1986 and raised two beautiful children. She has worked for several photography companies over the last seven years in various managerial roles. Her experience in the industry, outgoing personality and friendly manner make her a fantastic booking manager and a valuable member of the Flash Fotos team.
Ben Markey – Team Leader Production
Ben, on his journey that lead him to working with Flash Fotos, completed a Bachelor Of Photography at James Cook University. Since university, he has been photographing weddings and portraits both nationally and internationally as well as working along side some of Australia's most renowned photographers. His passion in portrait photography has won him awards amongst his piers at a national level and helped to raise well needed money for selected charities. He enjoys his active and stress free lifestyle on the coast and is determined to make the most of his life while bringing a smile to the faces of those around him.
Kristine Mills – Team Leader Promotions
Originally from Maryborough, Kristine moved to the Sunshine Coast 20 years ago to raise three lovely children. She has worked in the photography industry for eight years and previously worked with Pixi Photos and Portraits. A self confessed conversationalist, Kristine enjoys aerobics, living a healthy lifestyle and having a good time. The most enjoyable part of Kristine's job as promotions manager is “working with a great team, watching customers get excited over their photos and just doing something that I love to do.”
Johnson Young – Team Leader- Photography
Johnson or otherwise known as J, hails from Far North Queensland and has had a camera in front of him since he was old enough to lift one. He attained his formal qualification at James Cook University. With his Batchelor of Photography in hand he ventured to the Great South East and promptly began working with some of the most prestigious photographic studios in Brisbane. J enjoys traveling, snowboarding and mountain biking. Joining the Flash Foto team has given J the opportunity to express his creative flair and eye for detail. “It doesn’t feel like work at all to me. I love my Job.”
Hannah Laidlaw – Photographer
Hannah was originally from New Zealand and has now been living on the Sunshine Coast for the past 8 years.
Hannah Laidlaw – Photographer
Katie Sonder -- Photographer
Giving people the opportunity to feel beautifuyl and view themselves in a way they may not have previously conceived is the reward that makes Katie come to work every day. Having started her career in photography five years ago, Katie has gained experience in many different areas of the trade, and developed a fantastic skill set and knowledge base. Now part of our Road Team, she enjoys traveling all over Australia to see some places she maynot have otherwise chosen to explore. Katie and her partner have a severe case of the travel bug, and are looking forward to feeding this addiction with an upcoming holiday to South America, where Katie hopes to find stacks of photo opportunity.
Bobbie Brown – Team Leader Make – Up Artist/ Events Coordinator
Bobbie has lived on the Sunshine Coast for about 5 years. After finishing her Make Up course in 2006 she was lucky enough to find herself a job with Flash Fotos working as a Make Up Artist. Deciding she needed a change, Bobbie left Australia and went to live in London for 12 months. There, she worked, lived and travelled some parts of Europe. On returning to Australia she then picked up where she left and started back with Flash Fotos where she now regularly travels on our Road Teams. In her spare time Bobbie enjoys hitting the gym and spending time with friends and family. On working at Flash Fotos Bobbie says “I love giving people the confidence to be in front of the camera and finding their inner beauty”
Karlee James – Make Up Artist
Karlee started her hairdressing career in 2008 in a boutique salon in
"I'm loving being part of the Flash Fotos team, and making people look
Amber Collie – Make Up Artist
Although you would not know it Amber was born in the small country town of Roma but now lives here on the Sunshine Coast.
Kirsty Whyte -- Makeup Artist
Kirsty has been a makeup artist for six years now. After studying makeup artistry for two years in Scotland, Kirsty started out doing freelance makeup for brides on their wedding day. She then moved on to photographic makeup within a makeover photography studio which gave her invaluable experience and confidence as she went on to win a competition run by L'Oreal and Elle Magazine: UK New Talent Makeup Artist Search. Kirsty's work was published in a beauty feature for Elle Magazine, and then she moved to London where she worked as a makeup artist at London Fashion Week 2010. She also freelanced for L'Oreal Head Office - which she loved.
Kirsty's decision to move to Australia was easy since she always wanted to travel and live abroad. Working for Flash Fotos has been an amazing experience for Kirsty since it means that she can visit many different places around our beautiful country while working with a competent and friendly team. She has loved every minute here at Flash Fotos.
Rhonda Harris -- Makeup Artist
For the past three years, Rhonda has been living her dream, working as a freelance makeup artist. Earlier this year when she moved to Australia from New Zealand, Rhonda was thrilled to land a job on the beautiful Sunshine Coast with Flash Fotos. Being part of our Road Team allows Rhonda to travel to many various locations across Australia. "I wanted to come to Australia and travel around. Working with Flash Fotos allows me to do just that. I absolutely love what I do", says Rhonda.
Kym Claxton – Bookings Manager
Kym was born in Queensland and has lived on the coast since 1995. She has raised 3 beautiful children and has worked in the photography industry for 6 years . She loves rugby league and seeing live bands. Kym loves nothing more than getting excited with the customer before they come for their photo session, and then seeing them leave after an enjoyable experience with smiles on their faces.
Krystl Witehira - Bookings Manager
Krystl was born in Rockhampton and has lived on the Sunshine Coast for twelve years. She and her partner enjoy fishing, travelling and mixed martial arts. After completing her course in Business Administration, Krystl started working in the photography industry and has done so for the past two years. What Krystl loves most about her job here at Flash Fotos is meeting and talking to new people everyday and ensuring customer satisfaction.
Lyn Strudwick – Post Production
Lyn was born in Dubbo, NSW but has been living on the Sunshine Coast for 17 years. After high school Lyn went on to complete her degree in human behaviour. She loves reading, singing and writing and she has just recently completed a first draft of her very first novel in which she is planning on getting published in the near future.
Ebony Aughton -- Administration
Ebony is not only one of the youngest here at Flash Fotos but she is one of the most career driven people you will know. Ebony has lived on the Sunshine Coast most of her life and is currently studying an Advanced Diploma of Accounting. She has high hopes of one day becoming a very succesful accountant/business woman. Ebony is a singer, guitar player and also a song writer. She has recorded many tracks and one day hopes to make a mainstream album. Everyday is a challange for Ebony but she loves her job, she loves the pressure and is proud to be working with such a fantastic and commited team here at Flash Fotos.
lifetime replacement
guarantee on our
printed images
If your prints get
damaged we will replace
them at no cost to you
