I was made redundant from my job in 2023 – now I make $100,000 a year attending strangers’ weddings where I’m on my phone the entire time
When Kristine Satorre was fired in January 2023, she had no backup plan.
On a whim, she decided to switch industries completely and start over in the wedding world, where she now makes $100,000 a year with a very quirky premise.
The 28-year-old from Sydney attends strangers’ weddings to capture candid moments with her iPhone 12 Pro Max and Canon G7X.
Kristine told FEMAIL that the company started “by accident” and grew out of the three years of content creation experience she had at the time.
“I saw a video on TikTok with a couple in the US adopting the concept and I really liked the idea – especially as someone who creates content and cherishes the idea of casual and candid and moments,” she said.
“After a late night pillow talk on Saturday night discussing the business idea with my partner, she created The Modern Bride BFF.”
Kristine Satorre (pictured) launched The Modern Bride’s BFF in January 2023, the same week she was fired
She attends strangers’ weddings and captures candid moments throughout the day
‘I am not a substitute photographer or videographer. It’s really important to me that I focus on a guest’s point of view, so I step aside and capture candid moments that you might not have known about or might have forgotten,” Kristine said.
Creating wedding content is becoming increasingly popular among millennials and Generation Z. It is an additional service for videographers and photographers.
It’s the perfect service for brides who want to capture every moment on camera from the beginning to the end of the day.
‘I am not a substitute photographer or videographer. It’s really important to me that I focus on a guest’s point of view, so I step aside and capture candid moments that you might not have known about or might have forgotten,” Kristine said.
‘Our aim is to compliment them by showing the opinion of an external third party – someone who was also there to experience the day!
“That means careful placement of my equipment and staying out of their way while they work.”
Creating wedding content is becoming increasingly popular among millennials and Generation Z. It is an additional service for videographers and photographers
The initial costs of setting up the business were low because she didn’t have to buy any other equipment, but she gave up her time to attend free weddings, bridal showers and hen nights to build her portfolio.
“I really needed a lot of self-reliance and self-confidence and the passion to continually learn and adapt to the industry,” Kristine said.
But the hard work paid off when she started catching the attention of brides after a few viral TikTok videos.
Within a year, Kristine had to expand her team, which has now catered 60 weddings, along with three proposals and a handful of corporate events.
The road to earning six figures in one year hasn’t been easy – Kristine still works up to 80 hours a week and has to give up her Saturdays to attend weddings
The path to earning six figures in one year is not easy: Kristine works up to 80 hours a week and has to give up her Saturdays to attend weddings.
She tends to struggle with imposter syndrome and finding the perfect work-life balance.
“Since weddings mainly take place on weekends, you have to compromise and take into account that you will miss many social events,” she said.
‘Finding people who understand your business, but who also support you, is one thing.
‘But not also spending quality time with them to ensure you can build your future is another, because you will miss a lot of birthdays, events and milestones.’
There is also enormous pressure when it comes to capturing one’s wedding and the expectations of brides.
Kristine said that although she often feels stressed out by the pressure, she is passionate about her work.
The Modern Bride BFF prices range from $500 to $2,650, with couples able to choose from several packages.
Services include unlimited photos and videos, post-production of edited Instagram reels and TikToks, free rental of exclusive bridal pajamas from Midnight Mischief and on-the-day post management.