How to Be an Image Consultant
Liam Parker
Updated on March 29, 2026
Do you ever worry about how you look? Have you ever wanted to make a second first impression? Many people are self conscious about how people perceive them and enlist a professional image consultant to help.
Image consultants work with individuals to improve a person’s image by changing their physical appearance, behaviors, and communication skills. It is a fun field that changes people’s lives for the better. People use image consultants to land a job, impress the ladies, get a promotion, or just because. No matter who you are there is always room for improvement.
An image consultant’s goal is make people feel better. When someone hires an image consultant, the focus is entirely on what the customer wants. Image consultants concentrate on what is best for a client, while considering the person’s personality, career, lifestyle, and goals. They work with a variety of people and must be open minded and well versed in acceptable trends.
After an image consultant establishes what the client wants, they get busy focusing on three things – physical appearance, behaviors, and communication.
All three of these things play major roles in how people relate to you.
Physical appearance involves several aspects. The day may start with tossing things from the closet, then shopping for new clothes, and building the perfect wardrobe. This includes looking at styles, trends, and color choices. The next step is hairstyle, makeup, and grooming. Image consultants may send people to dentists, trainers, nutritionists, or even plastic surgeons to achieve perfection.
See related: Makeup Jobs section.
The goal is to get someone to be visually stunning, whether for a MTV premiere or for a corporate job interview.
Behavior and communication skills can also make or break a person. Behaviors include things like picking your nose, fidgeting, or slouching. Fixing these things will make the client appear more professional and focused. Image consultants also coach people on communication skills. That’s right – no more “likes” or “umms.” They advise on vocabulary, grammar, eye contact, manners, and etiquette.
Professional image consultants can fix the whole package. That is why they work with job seekers, elected officials, professionals, executives, and TV personalities. Gotta make ’em look good for the paparazzi! They are helping people in the public eye look and feel good.
One way to learn this trade is to watch ABC’s Extreme Makeover. The best way is to start with friends and family. Survival in this field is dependent on recommendations and homegrown marketing techniques like before and after photos and videos. Success in this field is up to you. Every client counts and every client helps build your reputation.
One way to boost your reputation is to earn certifications through the Associations of Image Consultants International (AICI). There are three levels – First Level, Image Professional, and Image Master.
Apprenticeships with established image consultants are also very helpful. The key is to gain experience through quality work.
Most image consultants are self-employed and work with individual clients or work with an image consulting agency. There is also work with groups, conferences, department stores, and presentations. Some image consultants work with big companies to help pick uniforms. This is an entrepreneurial profession that gives you flexible hours, your own business, and client control. Image consultants can be paid $50 to $500 per session and can make anywhere from or $20,000 to $75,000 per year. The average salary is $39,000.
Image consulting is a growing field. Many people are obsessed with how they appear to the public. A successful image consultant can help both men and women fit in and feel good. Everyone can benefit from a makeover. It will bring out the best in you.
Quick Facts About Image Consulting Work
Job Title: Image Consultant, Wardrobe Consultant, Fashion Advisor
Office: Working with individuals
Description: Improve person’s image through changes in communication techniques, wardrobe choice, and body language
Certifications/Education: No formal education required, AICI Certification Recommended
Necessary Skills: Eye for fashion, trends, image, People person
Potential Employers: Self-employed, Image Consultant Agency
Pay: Paid per session, $20,000 to $75,000 per year, average is $39,000
Finding qualified, reliable individuals to join your staff is an essential step in growing your business. We’re here to make the hiring process as easy as possible for you. In this guide, we’ll cover all of the following:
- Home
- Hiring
- Image Consultant Job Description
Last Updated: 2020-05-13
WHAT TO INCLUDE IN A JOB DESCRIPTION
A good job description should include a company overview and job overview, as well as an explanation of the associated responsibilities, skills & qualifications, and work environment. Below are some general guidelines for writing each of these sections effectively.
1. COMPANY OVERVIEW
Providing an accurate, concise description of your business is a great way to attract the right employees. Think of this section as an advertisement for your company — why should prospective employees want to join your team?
Some useful things to include here are:
- Core company values
- Mission statement
- Brief history of your organization
- Anticipated growth
- Business goals
2. JOB OVERVIEW
In a few sentences, describe the purpose, importance, and fundamental qualities of the position being offered. No need to be too specific or comprehensive here — the idea is to provide a zoomed-out image of the role the applicant would be filling in your company.
3. RESPONSIBILITIES
This is where you’ll outline the specific day-to-day responsibilities of the job. Bullet-point format is typically the most practical way to present this information.
4. NECESSARY SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS
List in bulleted format the skills & qualifications that are absolutely essential to this position. Consider as many specific conditions of the job as possible in order to create a complete list of qualifications an applicant must have in order to succeed.
5. PREFERRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS
List in bulleted format the skills & qualifications that are not essential, but would make an applicant more eligible for the position being offered.
6. WORK ENVIRONMENT
Describe the environment in which the applicant would be spending most of their time. In this description, include information about:
- Company culture
- Pace of work
- Amount of collaborative vs. independent activity
- Who the employee will report to (or vice versa)
Image Consultant Job Description
Below is our image consultant job description. You can post it as-is to an online job board like ZipRecruiter, or download and customize it to match the unique aspects of your business. Keep in mind that adding a custom company overview and description of the work environment (outlined above) will help you draw in the right applicants.
Image Consultant Job Description
Job Overview:
Are you a fashion conscious individual with a flair for style and design? You may be the ideal candidate for the position of Image Consultant. Our organization specializes in marketing and promoting individuals, and our Image Consultants oversee the personal styling of our clients. In today’s visual, digital world, personal style plays an important role in many career opportunities and personal goals. Our clients understand this modern approach to presentation and need a professional and detail-oriented individual to assist them in creating a personal style that sets them apart from the crowd.
Responsibilities:
- Meet with clients to determine their personal and professional goals
- Work with each client to develop and create a unique image that helps them meet their goals
- Help clients develop style, behavior, and communications that enhance their new image
- Promote clients across print and digital media platforms
- Remain up to date on fashion trends
- Conduct seminars and workshops for small groups
Necessary Skills & Qualifications:
- Associate degree from an accredited art or design school
- AICI Certificate in Image Consultancy
- Experience in cosmetology, fashion design, personal styling, or a related field
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and public speaking skills
- Willingness to maintain a unique and professional personal style to effectively market yourself to clients
- Strong attention to detail and a flair for fashion and overall appearance
Preferred Skills & Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited art or design school
- Ability to travel regularly for client jobs or style seminars
Create a free account with ZipRecruiter to post this job description to their online job board.
3 STEPS TO TAKE WHEN HIRING EMPLOYEES
ENSURE LEGAL COMPLIANCE
Hiring employees can be an intimidating and time-consuming process, but it doesn’t have to be. We’ve created a hiring compliance checklist to help you get over the legal hurdles with ease. From obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to confirming work eligibility, our guide covers everything you need to know.
SET UP PAYROLL
Even if your business only has a few employees, setting up a payroll service can save you time for running your business and also ensure that your company is compliant with important federal requirements, such as employee withholding.
We recommend Gusto, a user-friendly payroll platform for small businesses.
ACQUIRE WORKERS’ COMP INSURANCE
Workers’ compensation insurance provides financial and legal protection for your business and its employees.
Whether or not you need workers’ comp insurance for your company depends on the nature of the job, the employer-employee relationship, and the unique regulations of your state.
Find out how much the right insurance will cost you.
This article is written by Suman Agarwal, she is an award-winning Image Management Professional.
With the world going global, there’s a huge demand for Image Consultants who can help others be confident and project a long-lasting image to achieve success. Which is why image consulting is one of the hottest career paths of the century. Moreover, you do not need a certain qualification or have to be a certain age to become an Image Consultant. This brings us to the question:
An Image Consultant is a certified image professional who helps others in grooming, styling, and presentation so that they can achieve greater success in their professional lives.
However, becoming an Image Consultant doesn’t guarantee success. Success requires you making the right decisions at every step along the way and putting in conscious efforts to evolve every day.
So, read out to find out what should be done before and after becoming an Image Consultant to ensure success.
Before You Become an Image Consultant
Ask Yourself if You’re the Right Fit – It is very important to know that you’re making the right decision. So, before you choose to become an Image Consultant, ask yourself these questions:
- Do I have great communication skills?
- Am I very particular about the details?
- Am I passionate about changing lives with counselling and training?
- Am I confident and a good public speaker?
- Do I have a good dressing sense?
If your answer to all these questions is ‘Yes’, then you have a great potential at making a glorious career in ima ge consulting .
Choose a Great Image Consulting Institute – A good image consulting institute or an image management course can make a world of difference in shaping your career. So, do your research both online and offline to make sure that you choose only the best image consulting course. Here are a few checks you must make before confirming an institute:
- Look for reviews online and find out how successful image consulting professionals certified from that institute are.
- Check if the institute offers certifications in accreditation with credible national and international institutes.
- Check if the institute offers a world-class curriculum.
Find Your Expertise – Image consulting courses train you in a multitude of areas including grooming, styling, public speaking, presenting, shopping assistance, and much more. This allows you to explore multiple glam career paths. Based on your strengths and availability, you can choose opportunities that will also allow you to grow.
One of the greatest advantages of choosing to become an Image Consultant is that you can pick more than one glam career and always keep it interesting. Here are a few career options an image consulting certification opens for you:
- Personality Development
- Celebrity Stylist
- Grooming and Etiquette Coach
- Corporate Image Consulting
- Makeover Consultant
- Wedding Consultant
- Personal Stylist
- Event Stylist, etc.
After You Become an Image Consultant
Set Up Your Individual Image Consulting Firm – With the business enablement support from your image consulting institute, you can set up your own firm. You can set up your business without any field experience or can choose to first establish a client base. However, just setting up the firm isn’t sufficient. You must market yourself and your business online so that you are easily discoverable. Here are a few things you can do:
- Create a website and optimize it for the most searched image consulting keywords.
- Promote your services on social media channels and mention your social media account information on your business card.
- Create a blog and write informational content to provide value.
- List your business on Google.
- Conduct webinars, workshops and training sessions online.
Keep Upgrading Yourself – Once you become an Image Consultant, you must stay relevant to stay in business. Hence, use additional training courses and tools to educate and upskill yourself continuously. The key to becoming successful is always being open to learning since a learning attitude will help you seize every opportunity that comes your way.
Soft skills training has great market potential in the 21 st century. So, you can opt for a soft skills training course to gain additional expertise.
Walk the Talk – You can be successful only when you practice what you preach. Hence, to inspire others to be confident and in presenting themselves brilliantly, you must look good and leave an impression on your clients that doesn’t fade easily.
Consistency and dedication are sure-shot ways to set yourself up for success. So, follow the tips above and prepare to make it big. All the best!
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How good can an exciting high-paying job showing people and companies how to make a fabulous impression can be? Image consultants are one job where you get to manipulate the spotlight without ever having to stand in it. Image consultants are professionals who assist people in enhancing their looks to achieve an appearance that will reflect their personality and charisma.
They advise the clients on all aspects of the personal image including physical appearance, presence, and communication. Image consulting is undoubtedly a growing field because public figures are increasingly concerned about how they appear to the public.
Business people, celebrities, and job seekers hire image consultants to improve their public image to sustain their social standing. Find out how to become an image consultant and what it takes to become a successful image consultant.
As an image consultant, you should have an understanding of many things including apparel and fashion. Image consultant jobs are more about dealing with complex details when working with clients like discussing their appearance and behavior. Be empathetic and a great listener to your clients’ needs, understand their personality and follow pop trends to be successful in this field.
Job Description of an Image Consultant
Image consultant jobs are about changing and enhancing the image of a person. An image consultant advises clients on their wardrobe, communication skills, body language, and attitude.
Duties and Responsibilities of an Image Consultant
- To evaluate the personality of a person and to find out what has to be changed.
- To go on a shopping spree with clients to help them choose clothing, accessories, and footwear appropriate for the occasions.
- To train the clients on positive body language and strong communication skills
As an image consultant, you strategically assess the ABC of a client’s image
Appearance: Appearance is one of the important factors to consider when we look at the overall image. When working on the appearance of a client you should consider the style that matches the client’s profession and personality.
Behavior: Image consultant is not a typical wardrobe or personal stylist to concentrate on what shows up on the outside alone. They advise their clients on acceptable behavioral trends in line with social trends. Behavior is about attitude and is as important as your outside image.
Communication: Developing communication skills is not as easy as saying “Hey, Just try to say it this way”. Instead, you must get to know your client, so that you can effectively find ways to improve their communication skills.
A Career as an Image Consultant
A person’s image is defined by the way they appear before others. In other words, the image of a person can be defined by the way other people judge them or form an impression about them. It is more than just physical appearance. In today’s world, people strive to create a good first impression.
As an image consultant, you must instill confidence in the clients. You will also advise the clients on vocal communications including voice, grammar, and vocabulary, non-verbal communications including handshakes, posture, and eye contact, etiquette including business, social graces, and dining.
How to Become an Image Consultant in Steps
Step 1: Complete a Training Program
Though there are no standard education requirements for image consultant jobs, there are quite a few training programs available. The programs cover various aspects of fashion and communication. You can pursue a degree in mass communication or public relations so that you gain knowledge and information on interpersonal communication, public speaking. If you are a freelance image consultant then an additional degree in marketing and finance can help you promote your services to clients. Association of Image Consultants International (AICI) offers image consultant certification.
Step 2: Gain Work Experience
Aspiring individuals should understand how image affects the overall branding of a client. To do so, they must first gain experience working with a public relations or fashion marketing firm. This helps the consultants to know about the targeted audiences and how companies and people project a certain image. You can start working as a part-time consultant.
Create a portfolio and then build your clientele. Companies would want you to improve the quality of their employees’ dressing style. Some celebrities would want you to give them styling services for their endorsement and other events. Public figures including politicians hire image consultants for improving their overall appearance.
Step 3: Join a Professional Organization
Organizations like the Association of Image Consultants International offer networking, further education and certification opportunities to their members. As an image consultant, you can further your career if you are a member of such an organization. Complete a training program, obtain image consultant certification, and gain experience in the field to become a successful image consultant.
Image Consultant Salary and Job Prospects
According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median image consultant salary as of 2018 is $58,435. The average corporate image consultant salaries in the United States are $65,684 with an equivalent hourly wage of $32. Image consultant jobs have been projected to have a growth rate of 9% from 2016-2026. Image management plays an important role in the present era of rapid globalization and competition. (1)
Is this Job for You?
An image consultant is a viable career option best suited for someone who is a people person and has an eye for fashion and style. Being a freelance image consultant takes guts and determination, and the rewards are worth it. Styles and clothes constantly change and every day your client will have different requirements. You should have the ability to adapt to these changes.
Photograph – An image produced by a camera.
Citing a photograph displayed in a museum or institution
Last, First M. Photograph Title. Year Created. Photograph. Museum/Institution, Location.
Cartier-Bresson, Henri. Juvisy, France. 1938. Photograph. The Museum of Modern Art, New York City.
Museum/collection: Where the photo is taken
City: City where the photo is located
Citing a photograph from a book
Last, First M. Photograph Title. Year Created. Photograph. Museum/Institution, Location. Book Title. City: Publisher, Year Published. Page(s). Print
Bennett, Peter. Antique Shop, East Village. New York City: A Photogenic Portrait. Massachusetts: Twin Lights, 2004. 8. Print.
Citing a photograph found on a website
Last, First M. Photograph Title. Year Created. Photograph. Museum/Institution, Location. Website Title. Web. Date Month Year Accessed.
Cartier-Bresson, Henri. Juvisy, France. 1938. The Museum of Modern Art, New York City. MoMa. Web. 24 June 2010.
Note: When citing sources reproduced online from their original versions, it is not necessary to include online information such as the website publisher or the date of electronic publication.
Note: This is the day that you found the image.
Citing a photograph from a database
Last, First M. Photograph Title. Year Created. Photograph. Museum/Institution, Location. Database Title. Web. Date Month Year Accessed.
Freed, Leonard. Holidaymaker Stuck in Traffic Jam. 1965. ARTstor. Web. 1 July 2010.
Collection/Museum and City: N/A
Data Accessed: This is the day that you found the image.
Citing a digital image
Digital Image – A picture which can be viewed electronically by a computer.
Last, First M. Title of Work. Digital Image. Website Title. Website Publisher, Date Month Year Published. Web. Date Month Year Accessed.
Guggenheim Museum in Spain. Digital image. HowStuffWorks. HowStuffWorks. Web. 22 July 2010.
Image search: Do not cite the search engine where the image is found, but the website of the image the search engine indexes.
Data Accessed: This is the day that you found the image.
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Image Consultant Courses Info: Today, Image Consulting Industry is a sensational growth phase, particularly in India. This is the right time for image consultants to establish themselves and gain great professional and financial success. Image Consultant Course offered by ICBI (Image Consulting Business Institute) cover physical, psychological, social and aesthetical aspects of projecting a winning Image to create powerful first and endless impressions. Following are the skills required for Image Consulting Course such as Communication skills (oral and written), Interpersonal skills, Ability to multitask, Tactical and strategic planning, Creative aptitude, Adaptability. To know more about Image Consultant Course Details like Eligibility Criteria, Fee Structure, Duration, Institute, Certification, Training, Salary, Jobs, Career, etc., please read out the complete article.
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About Image Consultant Certification
Content In This Article
Image Consulting Certificate focuses on how to work with clients who are looking to enhance their presence, behaviour and communication skills. Many consultants apply for the AICI CIC designation after they complete their initial image consulting training and start a business.
Training Includes
- Color and color psychology (see Before/After photos)
- Color analysis
- “Line” with clothing and the body
- Wardrobe and closet assessment
- Body types and camouflage techniques
- Comportment and body language
- Presentation Skills / Power Point Skills
- Web site and newsletter information
- How to set up a Home Studio
Scope of Image Consulting Courses
There is a lot of scope for image consultants in the sense that they can train under a professional, for a period of time and then start his/her own business.
Image Consultant Course Fees
The Image Consulting Course fee range anywhere between 1, 50, 000 to 3, 00, 000 for a 1 year course.
Career as Image Consultant
This field provides an excellent opportunity for become to take up Image Consulting as a career. This career pays well and also creates a incredible sense of achievement as one is able to make a difference in lives of many people.
Image Consulting Career Benefits
- Growth industry
- Interesting work
- Personal Fulfillment
- Fantastic people
- Independence and Flexibility
- Home-Based
- Potential to expand
Financial Gain
- Image Consultants charge anywhere between Rs. 1500/- to Rs. 10,000/- per hour for personal consultation work
- 15,000/- to Rs. 50,000/- per day for corporate training assignments
- Many of them organize open workshops on various Image topics charge between Rs. 2,000/- to Rs. 9,000/- per participant
Educational requirements for Image Consultant
- All Image consultants must at least be high school graduates
- Any part time job work experience is an advantage.
- Training programs for color analysts, image consultants, workshop for outfits and make ups will also be helpful in becoming an image consultant.
- Programs and Seminars in colors, psychology, training method, presentation methods and communication are all great qualities to become an image consultant.
Job Prospects
Career as an Image consultant is one of the most modern career fields today. Also known by such titles as
- Image Consultant
- Wardrobe Consultant
- Fashion Advisor, etc
Salary Details:
Image consultants can be paid $50 to $500 per session and can make anywhere from or $20,000 to $75,000 per year. The average salary is $39,000.
How to Become an Image Consultant
by Tag Goulet
Image Consultants have one of the hottest careers today. You might have seen them while watching Extreme Makeover, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, or What Not to Wear. Or you might have heard that Martha Stewart should have hired them to give her advice on how to look more sympathetic to a jury. Could you become an image consultant?
Also known by such titles as wardrobe consultant, fashion stylist, or makeover consultant, image consultants are paid to show people how to create a fabulous impression. They might recommend wearing different colors or new styles, go through closets to toss out clothing that isn’t working, shop for a new wardrobe, and put together incredible outfits. They might advise a change of hairstyle, makeup, or grooming.
What an Image Consultant Does
Image is also about more than physical appearance. In addition to how someone looks, we also form impressions based on how someone talks and behaves. So image consultants may also advise people on their vocal communication (voice, grammar, vocabulary, etc.), non-verbal communication (handshakes, posture, eye contact, etc.) and etiquette – from dining to cell phones.
Most image consultants also develop a network of strategic partners they can refer clients to, such as hair stylists, makeup artists, nutritionists, cosmetic dentists, personal trainers, plastic surgeons, and voice coaches.
Image consultants offer the kind of advice that can help people land a job, get a promotion, find someone to love, or just feel good about themselves.
It’s no wonder they are so well rewarded, typically earning at least $50 per hour advising individuals how to present a better image. A particularly lucrative avenue is presenting training programs for corporations. Image consultants can earn thousands of dollars a day teaching seminars on dressing professionally (including dos and don’ts for casual Fridays), telephone etiquette for customer service staff, communication skills for new supervisors, and other topics.
TIP: If you are one of the rare few who think image doesn’t matter, try shopping at a fine store dressed in what you would normally wear to clean your basement or move furniture. Then visit the same store looking well-groomed and wearing your best suit. Chances are the staff will treat you quite differently!
Become an Image Consultant
The first step to becoming an image consultant is to decide what kind of services you want to offer. You could specialize in wardrobe or fashion consulting, offer advice on communication skills and etiquette, or be a makeover consultant who gives feedback on “the whole package.”
The next step is to get some experience. While you can quickly learn the basics in a course like the Image Consultant Certificate Course from the International Association of Professions Career College, you should also get hands-on experience. Offer free makeovers for friends and family members who will agree to let you take “before and after” photos. You can then put the photos in a portfolio or on your web site to help you get paying clients.
There are many types of clients who use the services of image consultants: those seeking a new look, job-seekers, corporate executives and their spouses, beauty pageant contestants, lawyers and their clients, cancer survivors, television personalities, transgender individuals, politicians, and singles seeking a partner.
“It is a great time to get into the field,” says celebrity image consultant Gloria Starr. A 20 year industry veteran who has helped shape the image of clients such as Destiny’s Child, 3M, and Celebrity Cruise Lines, she shares expert advice on how to get started in the FabJob Guide to Become an Image Consultant, the textbook for IAP Career College’s Image Consultant Certificate Course.
“This is the busiest time in my 20-plus years. People are looking for the edge in business,” says Starr. “Presenting themselves for success by dressing well and using appropriate business and dining skills opens the doors for greater recognition and success.”
Is a Career as an Image Consultant Right for You?
Skills that can help you succeed in this career are a strong visual sense as well as excellent communication skills. You must be able to diplomatically tell someone what they need to improve about their appearance and how to make those changes.
Image consulting is a service business so it doesn’t require a large investment to get started. You can even start part-time while still working at another job. To be credible, you must have a professional image yourself.
What Exactly Does an Image Consultant Do?
The way we look, communicate and behave influences the image we project along with the first impression we make. With the vital role that first impressions play in our social and professional lives, it is no wonder that a good number of people are turning to consultants to help improve their appearance. Improving your appearance will not only boost your self-confidence but also help you achieve your personal and professional goals. Increasing demand for image consulting services has led to the growth of the industry, a factor that has led more people to want to become consulting experts themselves. To benefit from the opportunities that this industry offers, image consultants and their clients should learn more about the basics below.
What is Image Consulting?
Image consulting is a service industry that involves a consultant helping clients improve their appearance for personal or professional reasons. Clients hire an expert to guide, mentor, educate, and train them on how to manage their appearance, body language, and etiquette to create positive first impressions and take advantage of the opportunities available to them. This means that the appearance achieved has to be consistent with the personal, social, and professional goals that individuals wish to convey.
For the expert to help improve the appearance of their clients, they have to start by learning about the individual or group. This information is then used to assist the client in achieving positive change and transformation. The process involves empowering clients to exercise greater control over the kind of perceptions and impressions they make through their grooming, clothing, body language, words, and etiquette. In short, consultants use personal branding to help people achieve their full potential.
Some of the clients that consultants commonly serve include private individuals, corporate executives, business owners, public personalities, and politicians.
What Does an Image Consultant Do?
Image consultants help their clients understand the colors and styles that best suit their personal/professional roles and their goals while also working to build confidence through looking and feeling great. But what exactly does a consultant do? Responsibilities of the job typically include:
- Helping improve physical appearance: One of the most important things that a consultant does is help clients improve their physical appearance. The professional makes sure that clients dress for their body shape, apply the right makeup, understand the best style for them, and buy suitable outfits for their role and the occasion.
- Advising on behavior: consultants also provide advice on how to behave appropriately. The professional can train and guide clients on how to conduct themselves in public spaces or during certain events. Whether you are going to a social gathering, business meeting, or public function, the expert will explain and train on basic etiquette rules.
- Improving communication skills:The importance of clear and effective communication cannot be denied. This is why consultants work on helping people to improve their communication skills. This includes both verbal and non-verbal communication, such as posture, eye contact, and body language
- Boosting confidence: Confidence is crucial in helping people learn how to seize opportunities and achieve their goals. Once they learn about their clients, image consultants help them feel comfortable with who they are so that they can be relaxed about their appearance and the impressions they make.
This list is by no means exhaustive: the role of a consultant can often extend beyond the responsibilities listed above. Generally, you can work with an image professional on just about any aspect of your life, making them a one-size-fits-all kind of consultant when it comes to personal improvement.
Steps to Becoming an Image Consultant
- Research
Just like with any other field, launching a career as a consultant should start with a thorough amount of research. Take time to study the industry and look for active image consultants in your local area. In this way, you can seek out and apply for internship opportunities that will let you gain invaluable advice and experience. - Get Qualified
Becoming a consultant does not require formal training. However, having a background in communications, fashion design, beauty culture, and other related courses will help you earn professional certification (as described below) and give you a solid foundation to build a career off of. - Get Certified
Apart from training, you should strive to get certified. To earn certification, you have to pass a series of exams that test your knowledge of the basic aspects of appearance development. You may also need to attend meetings and workshops that help you meet mentors and gain knowledge. - Set Up Business
Once you are qualified, you can proceed to set up your consulting business. There are various options that you can explore when you reach this stage. While some appearance consultants offer classes on business etiquette, and personal presence to attract clients, others work under established consultants to gather experience. - Advance Your Career
If you are to remain relevant in the consulting business, you should take the necessary steps to advance your career. This means staying updated on the latest trends and styles, carrying on with education programs, and reading relevant publications. You will need to have personal drive, passion, and motivation to take your career to the next level.
Final Thoughts
Over the past 30 years, the image consulting industry has grown in remarkable ways. While in the past, professionals focused mostly on analyzing colors, nowadays they concentrate on shape, style, and a great deal of similarly related concerns as well. To become a successful consultant, you should have a great sense of style, possess impressive verbal communication skills, have a desire to help people, be creative, and have the ability to listen and empathize.
There is no doubt that choosing a good school for image consulting training will help boost your career. When it comes to training, the London Image Institute is one of the most established and respected names in the field. This is a great institution for anyone looking to launch and pursue an exciting career in consulting, with rigorous courses taught by faculty with over 20 years of experience in consulting and other related fields.
The London Image Institute offers students the option of pursuing courses in Atlanta, London, and Goa. The different campuses offer courses at different times of the year to ensure you enjoy convenience and flexibility no matter your schedule. Get in touch with us today for more information on the training institution and the programs offered. You must familiarize yourself with this industry if you want to be an expert yourself or simply seek the services of a professional, and the London Image Institute can help you to make informed decisions and take advantage of the opportunities available.
An Image Consultant helps people look better so they feel better—more confident and capable.
Regardless of who or how many people an Image Consultant works with, results for the client tend to be long lasting, leading to a greater overall sense of well-being and increased level of personal success.
Image Consultants work with clients on matters of personal appearance in relation to roles and goals, typically:
- Lifestyle analysis/evaluation
- Personality analysis/evaluation
- Personal style analysis/evaluation
- Figure/Body analysis/evaluation
- Style (line and shape) selection and coordination
- Personal coloring analysis/evaluation
- Color selection and coordination
- Fabric selection and coordination
- Pattern selection and coordination
- Wardrobe analysis/evaluation
- Wardrobe selection and coordination
- Accessory selection and coordination
- Clothing for special occasions
- Wardrobe/fashion styling
- Strategic clothing
- Strategic shopping
- Clothing care and storage
- Body hygiene
- Hair care and styling
- Makeup selection, coordination, application
- Makeover process
- Makeup for media
- Impression Management
- Body language
- Social, business and dining etiquette
- International and military protocol Business casual issues
- Clothing code development
- Executive coaching
- Personal/self-branding
- Corporate/company Image
- Uniform clothing
- Interview Image
- Speech and public speaking
- Communication style
- Conversation skills
- Media training
- Wellness
- Retail training
What Is An Image Consultant, and How Do You Become One?
An image consultant is a professional who helps in enhancing a client’s image. The consultant will focus on how well a client appears to the public with an emphasis on reviewing one’s behavior, one’s communication efforts, and that person’s appearance.
Being a personal image consultant sounds like a simple task. But it takes plenty of training and education for someone to become a professional consultant. You can learn how to be an image consultant today if you take the proper forms of training. You have to use the right plans for becoming a consultant if you want to be taken seriously, especially if you’re looking to work with high-end clients.
What Is An Image Consultant
General Tasks From An Image Consultant
You have to know what you are entering into when aiming to become an image consultant. An image consultant is a professional who helps clients in handling various tasks and social goals. A consultant can help in managing many tasks:
- A consultant will review how a person dresses and identify opportunities for that person to look professional for many occasions.
- A consultant can guide a person on the proper body language to use. The key is to give a person a good look without looking unprofessional or unappealing to the masses.
- Etiquette lessons may be provided by a personal image consultant. The client may use the points here to identify what might work.
Learning To Be a Consultant
The process of how to be an image consultant can take a good while to complete, but it is all about providing you with the knowledge you need to help people well. To start, you’ll have to work as a consultant.
A consultant will need to undergo training to attain one’s skills. A training course can take a few weeks or months to complete. Some people promote weekend seminars, but they’re not going to go over everything a consultant needs to understand.
Some of the studies you might consider when learning to be a consultant through a training program entails the following:
- Psychology courses help you to understand behaviors and emotions. You can help clients learn to manage their feelings and to express themselves well when you understand the key principles of psychology.
- Art classes may also help you in understanding how well people project themselves. You could figure out how color theory works and how it can influence what a person should wear or utilize.
- Fashion merchandising is another point that can influence how well you recognize fashion and style. You can use the lessons here to see how well you can impact what people might look like and how they can use different outfits.
Working In Various Jobs
Another part of image consultant training is to work in jobs that relate to the field. You can work in many positions that focus on enhancing anyone’s image. Working at a clothing store or at a hairstylist or other place might help you gain experience when going forward as a consultant.
Establish Partnerships
The next part of being a consultant involves producing the right partnerships with people who can work with you. You have to establish partnerships that are sensible and appropriate for work.
You can work with other consultants to get an idea of what they do in the field of work. Take note of how well they can complete their jobs and how they’re going to serve their clients in many forms. You can create a great partnership that lets you work well with someone and show your ability to handle tasks.
Receive Proper Certification
You will need to attain certification to be a consultant. You can complete a test with the Association of Image Consultants International to see if you can qualify to work in this field. AICI certification lets you confirm that you have experience in the field and that you understand what it takes to make people look their best.
It helps to produce a website and portfolio alongside your certification as well. You have to show people what you plan on doing for others and that you respect the distinct needs they hold when working on their images and making them more appealing to the masses. Don’t forget to produce business cards if possible.
Being a personal image consultant will be exciting, but it helps to see what you’re doing when you want to attain your image consultant certification. You have to be aware of what you’re getting into your education process and that you have a plan in mind for whatever works.
Hi, I’m Jane Liddelow of Style Makeover HQ and your personal image guide!
I am a TAIC certified professional Image Consultant (see below) and a member of the Association of Image Consultants International (AICI).
It is my privilege and passion to help men and women, just like you, find their best look and improve their confidence.
The outer image we portray has such a powerful effect on our lives. It can either help us achieve our goals and dreams or it can sabotage our efforts.
It really is so important to periodically assess our outer image. We need to ensure that the image we portray is still in step with our inner image and is appropriate for our lifestyle and how we want to be seen.
How I Became An Image Consultant
Having been through quite a few lifestyle changes over the years I’ve had the need to re-assess my own image many times. My lifestyle changes have included a number of major relocations (England to Australia to England, London then Cambridge, to the USA, Seattle then San Francisco, to Australia, Perth to Sydney) and several career changes (including: Wedding and Event Planner, IT Business Analyst and now, Image Consultant).
I’m now finally settled in beautiful Avalon on Sydney’s Northern Beaches and I’m passionate about my work as an Image Consultant.
I wouldn’t call myself a born style guru. For me it was something I’ve learned. And because of this I’m well placed to teach others how to look their very best.
Before I became interested in learning about image I mostly got it right, but not always. When I did I received compliments. Sometimes I wore the right color for me, sometimes the right style and sometimes both. That’s when the compliments really flowed! And I’d wear the outfit to death. However, I still didn’t know exactly what it was that I’d got right. Just that the outfit made me feel good and that I received compliments on how I looked.
Then, 20 years or so ago, just after I’d finished university, I stumbled onto color analysis. I think it was through Amway’s “Color Me Beautiful”. It made me realise that typically I was wearing the wrong colors. I had a group color analysis from an Amway consultant. Then I decided I needed more help. So I researched Image Consultants and made an appointment to have both my colors and my styles assessed by a professional.
It completely changed the colors I wear. I went from wearing black and white and pastel colors (so wrong on me) to wearing autumn colors such as olive green and burnt orange. And I’ve never looked back — there’s no black or white in my wardrobe (though since my training I now know how I could wear these colors if I really wanted to)!
My styles were less of a surprise. At that time I was making all my own clothes, due to being a poor student. And I generally knew what suited me. It was only when I ventured away from the styles I knew that I made the occasional mistake. When I saw a picture in a magazine of a model wearing an outfit I liked, in a style I didn’t normally wear, that’s when I could get it very wrong!
The beauty of knowing which styles suit you is that when you want to try a new look that’s in fashion it takes the guess work out of whether the style will look good on you.
Training To Be an Image Consultant
Over the years I have helped family and friends find their colors and styles by taking them to image consultants. Then I decided to become an Image Consultant myself! I’ve discovered there’s so much more to it than just knowing your best colors and styles. My job is to provide you with the information in a way that makes it easy to understand and to put into practice.
My trainer and mentor is Ann Reinten of Image Innovators. Ann’s course is accredited with the AICI (the professional international image consulting organisation), which is one of the reasons why I chose her course. I gained my certification in September 2007 and have been providing image consulting services ever since. I love my work! It’s so much fun!
Style Makeover HQ Services
I love helping men and women like you improve your feelings of self worth and confidence by guiding you through the various aspects of how to dress well and look great.
I hope you will let me help you create your new look and get the style confidence you would like either in-person, here in Sydney, or remotely via email (for information on my services click here).
Feel free to contact me with your style makeover questions, or feedback on my website. I’d love to hear from you.