We recently connected with Christopher Pollard and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Christopher, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

At its core, Model Con was created to bridge the gap between aspiring models and real industry opportunity. Our mission is to empower emerging talent, especially those who don’t have traditional connections or agency backing, with the tools, education, and access they need to succeed in modeling, content creation, and beyond.

This mission is deeply personal to me because I’ve spent over 17 years as a photographer working with models of all backgrounds—many of whom had the talent, but lacked the guidance, exposure, or confidence to break into the industry. I saw firsthand how often opportunities were gatekept, and how much misinformation or insecurity held people back.

Model Con was my way of flipping that script. It’s more than an event, it’s a movement that creates a safe, supportive, and powerful space for the next generation of creatives to learn, connect, and be seen. Whether someone walks away with a contract, a mentor, or a new level of self-belief, the impact is real, and that’s what drives me.

Christopher, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Christopher Pollard, and I’m the founder of Model Con, the creator of Model Society, and the owner of Studio7onethree Photography. I’ve been a professional photographer for over 17 years, specializing in fashion, commercial, and editorial work—and my journey has always centered around helping people see themselves differently, whether that’s through a camera lens or in the way they show up in the world.

I got into photography as a creative outlet, but it quickly turned into something bigger. That’s how Model Con was born.

Model Con is now the largest modeling conference in California, bringing together hundreds of models, photographers, creatives, and industry pros from all over the country for two days of real-world training, agency connections, and community. We’ve had attendees go on to sign with agencies and I’ve watched people go from self-doubt to self-booked right in front of me.

In addition to Model Con, I also run Model Society, a mastermind coaching program that teaches aspiring models everything they need to know, from posing, walking, and branding, to understanding contracts and building a profitable presence online. I also offer high-end birthday, editorial, and commercial photography through Studio7onethree, which is based in Sacramento but serves clients across California and beyond.

What sets me apart is that I’m not here to sell a dream, I’m here to help people build it. I combine industry experience with real-life strategy, and I’m committed to creating spaces where people, especially Black and brown creatives, can thrive without being overlooked or taken advantage of.

I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve helped over 30 models get signed directly through my events in the last year and even more gain the confidence and clarity to turn their passions into careers. But more than that, I’m proud to be part of something that matters something that educates, uplifts, and builds community.

If there’s one thing I want people to know about me and my work, it’s this: I didn’t build any of this to show off. I built it so you could show up.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was that confidence is something you either have or you don’t. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Years ago, I joined a network marketing company that required me to speak in public, a lot. At the time, I thought I was confident… until I had to grab the mic. I would break into a full sweat, stumble over my words, repeat myself, and rush through my part just so I could sit back down. You could see the nervousness all over me. It was painful, honestly, and I knew I wasn’t showing up as the version of myself I wanted to be.

But every time I watched the top leaders command a room with confidence, clarity, and charisma, something inside me whispered, “You could be that.”

What I eventually realized is that it wasn’t about how other people perceived me. I was more insecure about how I perceived myself. My mindset was the problem, and also the solution.

So I did the work.
I read the books.
I listened to hours of podcasts.
I practiced speeches, stuttered through them, and kept going.
I failed forward until the version of me I once admired became the version I had grown into.

The biggest transformation wasn’t in how I spoke, it was in how I saw myself. That shift in self-perception changed everything: how I carried myself, how I dressed, how I connected with others, and how I showed up in rooms I once felt too small to stand in.

That’s why mindset is such a huge part of what I teach today. Because once you believe in yourself, the world starts to believe in you too.

“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Absolutely. One of the biggest pivots in my career happened when I walked away from my full-time government job to become a creative entrepreneur. I was working for the State of California at the DMV—secure pay, full benefits, but no purpose. In 2019, I made the decision to bet on myself full-time as a photographer, educator, and event creator. That meant giving up stability and walking into the unknown with nothing but a camera and a vision.

But that pivot didn’t stop there. I thought photography would be the center of my business—but what really took off was my impact in the modeling community. I kept hearing from aspiring models who had no idea where to start, who to trust, or how to get signed. That’s when I pivoted again and created Model Con. I didn’t just want to take photos—I wanted to create a platform where models could be educated, empowered, and seen.

Since then, Model Con has grown into the largest modeling event in California. That pivot turned out to be the most purpose-driven move I ever made. Sometimes your purpose is on the other side of your fear—and I’m glad I didn’t let comfort stop me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.joinmodelcon.com/waitlist
• Instagram: @christopherpollard__ @modelcon_
• Facebook: Modelcon_
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristopherPollard_

Image Credits

Photos by Christopher Pollard @studio7onethree
Suit by @tuxedodenca