What is an image consultant

For the past 9 years, I’ve met so many people from the beauty, fashion and corporate industry here in the Philippines and internationally.  After the initial introduction, they would ask what I do for a living and I’d respond, “I’m an image consultant.”  So far, about 90% of the time, I would be asked “What exactly is an image consultant?”  Still, they’d press on and ask “So, what is it that you do as an image consultant?”  So, here is my version of the answer…

The image consulting industry in the past couple of years has increased in terms of the number of image consultants around.  I remember when I first became a member of the AICI, or the Association of Image Consultants, International, in 2006, there were just 3 of us on the list of Philippine members.   The number started increasing the years after that, and today we have 19 Philippine members.  However, despite this fantastic increase in our numbers, there are still so many Filipinos unaware of what an image consultant does.

An image consultant is a professional expert, coach, teacher, facilitator, resource of improving one’s appearance, behavior and communication. So what exactly do we do as image consultants?  We guide you to improve your image through one-on-one consultations or group sessions.  Here is a general breakdown of what a typical image consultant is able to do.

For appearance, we can work on any aspect of your personal or professional appearance enhancement.  Color Analysis, power dressing, wardrobe development, personal shopping services, make-up and hairstyling training/application are some topics an image consultant can help you improve with. 

Behavior pertains to your interaction, decorum and presentation of yourself.  Topics like visual poise, posture improvement, business and social etiquette, interaction skills are typical ones that image consultants teach.

Communication skills are what image consultants are also able to work on and develop.  There are many clients that always seek a way to improve their communication.  There are some communication experts that teach grammar, articulation and projection for public speaking.  An image consultant can do these as well as help you in developing confident communication skills, conversational skills, effective and professional communication.

So, that’s what an image consultant is.  Their next question normally would be “How much will it be to hire one?”.

That’s going to be another conversation and perhaps another article.

For more information on image consultants, log on to http://www.aici.org/ for the Association of Image Consultants, International.  To find out how to improve your appearance, behavior and communication towards your professional success, log on to www.globalimagemanagement.com or contact me at karen@globalimagemanagement.com.

Thank you for attending the 2nd Image Forum

Yesterday, the 2nd Image Forum was held at the Event Factory of Eastwood Mall.  Guests began arriving at 2pm, and the afternoon proved to be fruitful as the topics discussed were very valuable to building your image consulting or training business.  It was also nice to get to know new people who are either related to the image business or are interested to get in the image industry.  It was also great to encounter old acquaintances during the forum!

Once again, to all those who attended the 2nd image forum, thank you very much!  Thank you also to Raymond Ciriaco, who gave an inspiring message about the value of one's character.  To all the efforts of my fellow organizers, Delby P. Bragais, AICI FLC, Abbygale Arenas-De Leon, Dina H. Loomis and Julia Robillos, more power to us and the future Image Forums!

If you weren't able to attend the Image Forum, don't worry as we aim to do the forum every other month.  Please do attend our next image forum sometime on February.  Keep checking this blogspot (or my facebook account) for the announcement!

I'll be posting photos of the Image Forum this week, so keep posted on this spot!

Come join us for the 2nd Image Forum

A lot of you have asked me: "What exactly is Image Consulting?"  Normally, I give a summarized explanation of the industry of image consulting, yet there are still some who can't exactly visualize what we image consultants do. 

So, to address this very common question that most (if not all) image consultants get (especially here in the Philippines), I'd like to invite you all to the 2nd Image Forum, on Saturday, November 20, 2pm - 5pm at the Event Factory, Eastwood Mall, in Libis, QC.  I will be discussing how to expand one's image consulting career (of course, I will also define what image consulting is), how it can benefit our clients, and what are the different topics that you can expect an image consultant can be an expert in.

Also, we have another speaker, Mr. Raymond Ciriaco, who'll be giving the talk on Building your Brand Inside Out.  The afternoon Image Forum promises to be information-packed, dynamic and enlightening!

So I hope to see you all during the second Image Forum!  Email me at karen@globalimagemanagement.com for more information.

GIM website is up!

The Global Image Management website is now up and running!  Please do check http://www.globalimagemanagement.com/ for information about corporate workshops, personality development, image consulting services.  We do personal consultations, corporate seminars, public seminars and personality development classes. 

We hope to hear from you soon! Feel free to email your comments and inquiries at karen@globalimagemanagement.com.

http://www.globalimagemanagement.com/

Enhance your image now!

Have you always wanted to have the confidence of a celebrity or the powerful presence of a Fortune 500 executive but don't believe you can?  Some people think that these qualities are innate in a few exceptional individuals.  This is not true though, because anything is possible!

Change your negative notions to this positive thought ---  You can achieve confidence and success as long as you believe in it and you are determined for it!

Confidence and a powerful presence are attainable through personality development and image enhancement.  From re-creating your outward appearance, to improving your carriage and manners and increasing your communication skills, your image goals are indeed possible!

Global Image Management offers Personal Image Consulting to those who aim to continue their journey towards image success.  Personal sessions on enhancing the image through appearance, behavior and communication development are all offered.  Email us at karen@globalimagemanagement.com to request for a Personal Assessment Form.

Believe in your possibilities... You CAN be confident, you can HAVE a powerful presence!