Image Consulting FAQ’s

There is no set-in-stone educational path or required degree for a consulting career. However, if you have a background in or aptitude for personal style, interpersonal communication, psychology and training skills and you love people, these are some of the attributes that make a first-rate consultant.

A background as a motivational speaker, model or actor could also help qualify you for success in the advising field. You may also be well prepared for a consulting career if you have a degree in marketing, clothing design and garment construction, mass communication, public relations, branding or an MBA.

Basic steps to establish yourself as a qualified consultant are:

• Attend a Training Program: Learning from experts, who offer an organized and in-depth curriculum, is the ideal way to become qualified as an advisor. Begin by learning the basic visual elements such as color theory and color analysis, fashion trends, styling, wardrobe organization and figure and body analysis. Choose a program that gives you real-world experience in the building blocks of appearance for men and women. Practice the skills until you feel confident to charge a fee.
• Conduct Market Research and Competitive Analysis: Look for needs that are going unfilled in your area, or unique niches or specialties. Consider the unique selling proposition for your services. Focus on what will make you stand out in the marketplace.
• Build Work Experience: You might also seek employment at a boutique, fashion marketing company, Dress for Success, as a personal shopper or in a public relations firm, where you could gain experience in building a personal brand and appearance. Occasionally successful consultants hire interns or assistants to help them with administration, IT or client needs.
• Develop Online Marketing Skills and Embrace Entrepreneurship: Most consultants are in business for themselves. As a new entrepreneur, it is imperative to learn sales, marketing, business development and social media skills. However, it’s not enough just to have a FaceBook page; a short well- designed website is also a wise move. Be sure to get professional help if you don’t have the skills. Also vital is in-person marketing to build visibility and credibility within your community, such as attending industry conferences, making presentations to civic and local clubs and associations and developing online educational videos, all of which can build your reputation and attract clients.
• Become a Member of Professional Organizations: Consider the Association of Image Consultants International. Such organizations can provide opportunities for making lifelong friends, networking, continuing education and certifications. You might also join industry associations for sectors you specialize in.

Salaries as an advisor vary widely, depending upon your portfolio of clients, years of experience, and your target markets. The median salary for a PR consultant was $60,000 in 2018. Consultants are often self-employed, so you may be setting your own fee schedule, which can increase once you have built your own brand identity and have a successful reputation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has noted hourly rates ranging from $50 to $500.

An advisor may work with organizations or individual clients. Consultants help their clients to enhance their communication skills, refine their personal style and wardrobe, and develop a professional manner. To accomplish the necessary changes, consultants may recommend alterations in the client’s look, communication skills and behavior.

As a consultant, you would help these individuals to develop a professional and polished persona that appeals to their particular audience. Anyone who needs to sell themselves or sell a product or service, which is nearly everyone these days, could use the services of an advisor.

Consultants can work for a variety of individuals including:

• Corporate executives and CEOs
• Business consultants
• Colleges graduates
• Anyone new to public speaking
• Career people in new management positions
• Changing careers, adjusting to new industry/culture
• Doctors and Dentists
• Lawyers
• Internet influencers
• YouTube stars
• Media personalities
• Formal event attendees
• Actors
• Educators
• Sports people
• Artists
• Board members
• Professionals in transition
  

Consultants can work for a variety of groups in organizations including:
The consultant may specialize in training and advising on topics such as business formal and casual, dress codes, grooming and hygiene, public speaking, TV and media appearances, events and fashion shows, presentation skills, etiquette, workplace manners and behavior, social media identity, interpersonal communications, conflict resolution, networking, personal branding and executive presence.

• Telephone and utilities companies
• Colleges and universities
• TV and radio
• Retail
• Banks
• Airlines
• Multinational organizations
• Non-profits and charities
• Small business groups
• Government officials
• Political groups
• Insurance
• Customer service groups
• Sales and marketing divisions
• Professional associations
  

Some of the specialty niches and titles a consultant might use:

• Wardrobe Consultant
• Celebrity Stylist
• Image Coach
• Presentation Coach
• Body Language Expert
• Fashion Stylist
• Personal Style Developer
• Etiquette Advisor
• Image Development Coach
• Personal Branding Expert
• Political Image Consultant

A consultant may work for a client long term as they build their professional appearance and grow their career, or short-term as the client prepares for an upcoming conference presentation, video or in-person interview, political speech, etc.

Any individual who is or wants to be the center of their professional or social scene, host parties and events, run a charitable foundation, sit on a corporate board, or establish a public figure, could hire an advisor. People of means might have these goals and frequently look to an advisor for guidance.

Clients at the top of their game may expect very personal advising services, such as traveling to their city, shopping for photo-enhancing or event-appropriate gowns or clothing on their behalf, managing a personal shopper, or bringing in a hairstylist and suggesting the appropriate look, cut and color.

London Image Institute offers consulting courses to prepare you as a men’s consultant.

As an example, a consultant might prepare a man for a career change with a new appearance. For instance, a man with a pleasant, friendly, casual, creative art-director appearance, will soon take a new position as a company CEO. His advisor would advise him on how to appear more professional and authoritative.

The consultant would create a plan to help him build his communications skills and refine his style. The advisor might help the client practice speaking and leading meetings to develop a solid leadership style and direct, tactful communication skills.

The client may also need style advising to build an updated, professional wardrobe and a “power dressing” style. Perhaps a change in hairstyle or facial hair may be suggested. These changes would help to transform the male client’s appearance into one well-qualified and fit for his new job in a highly-visible, company leadership position.

We include a color starter kit in the Foundation training from internationally known color suppliers. Consulting products from various vendors and sources will be mentioned but none is preferred over another. You can order clients colour supplies after the program from any vendor.

We provide a makeup lesson either from a makeup artist or a session at a high-end makeup studio where you can purchase excellent makeup for yourself. Again we give you several other resources to offer makeup to your clients.

Foundation + Advanced graduates gain access to the full Alumni Site for life. The membership site provides client workbooks, training Power Points, Power Points for your use with groups; templates, sketches, client letters, before and after images and stock photography. Foundation Course only graduates gain access to their own post-course site that provides Power Points and materials for individual consultations.

Consulting requires a fairly low overhead, compared to some other businesses. At the beginning most students use the starter kit we provide and vendors that we recommend. They say that there are few extra charges, such as the option of a mirror, rack, bulb and lamp and client color swatch books. In addition you can print out the client workbooks provided for your client.

Yes! The color suppliers we use offer discounts to London Image Institute graduates. Also, as a graduate, you have the opportunity to a substantial discount off business coaching programs with Sarah Hathorn, AICI CIM of Illustra Business Coaching and Hathorn Consulting Group.

We highly recommend that you take both together. They are designed together and complement each other, regardless of your future work. However, you can take the Foundation first and later the Advanced. We have even had students who take the Advanced first because their skills were appropriate and they needed that information immediately.

We do give a session on a business organization for Foundation students, but in the Advanced the entire week is devoted to creating your brand and getting you to the next level in business. In addition, you are furnished with materials and content for seminars and professional presence coaching and workshops.

There is a support structure after the program: A greatly discounted coaching program; ongoing mentoring and support from Lynne Marks; support with practice client information; personal telephone calls if you want them. We also have group calls after each course.

You do the program for yourself and on yourself! You will learn every aspect of your own appearance and what suits you. We can even provide stores and resources for you locally.

We lean on fashion and design principles as Lynne’s background was at The London College of Fashion where she ran an image department. In addition to fashion and design our Foundation Course pulls from a rich background of other principles and methods. Our colour analysis is based on Munsell’s work on scientific colour theory and our training ranges from tonal to the twelve seasons.

No other training offers the level of personal coaching you get in the Advanced course. After the Advanced class in particular, most people say that their view of advising and their past circumstances has altered. They have a new set of eyes about business opportunities and their skills. Their self-limiting beliefs no longer stop them and they find that a business is easily within their grasp. Not only that, they become quite clear in the Advanced Course of the gift they bring to their clients and the contribution they make to the world.

The Foundation Course prepares you for the AICI core competencies in Color Theory and Color Analysis, Style and Body Analysis, the Physical and Psychological Aspects of Appearance, Visual Perception of Apparel, Strategic Wardrobe Planning, Makeup, and Shopping Practices. The Advanced Course prepares you in the competencies of Facilitation, Coaching, Fashion Trends, Non-verbal Communication, Business Etiquette and Protocol, Formal Business Appearance, Levels of Casual Dress, Personal Branding and Business Development.

For the Foundation Course you do not need any experience or prior knowledge of the technical aspects, just a passion for the subject and a sincere love of people.

You also can take the Foundation + Advanced Course without any prior experience. We have designed the Foundation Course directly before the Advanced Course and highly recommend that you take both courses at once.

To get the most benefit from the Advanced Course, you will need to have some experience in one or more of the components of advising or a related career. (e.g. color, makeup, hairstyling, clothing design, garment construction, modeling, fashion photography, styling, etiquette, personal shopping, retail sales, in-home product line, fashion certification or degree, appearance courses, fashion merchandising, home economics, tailoring, career consulting, professional coaching or presentation coaching.) It is also useful but not essential to have some experience in teaching groups or consulting.

Begin your training now

There are slight variations in the descriptions and agendas, based on the program level and location. Please refer to each city’s PDF guide for specific agendas and program details.

Yes you can! And as with all businesses there are conditions. If you want to increase revenues or start a successful advising business you need to have a variety of skills, products and services to offer clients. Basic consulting skills will only take you so far in your career. You will also need a workable marketing plan and be able to implement it consistently. Full time entrepreneurial businesses often take two to three years to establish so you will need a means to support yourself during that time.

The USA and EUROPE Foundation, Advanced and Foundation + Advanced Courses, you will be given a certificate by London Image Institute.

The ImageAsia® Foundation Course certificate is given by The Academy of Image Mastery.

The ImageAsia® Advanced Course is given by London Image Institute.