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.