Considerations for Being an Image Consultant: Pros & Cons
Veteran image consultants will often tell you that they can’t imagine doing anything else. It’s a career like no other! Image consultants transform their clients into the best versions of themselves – and that makes for a truly rewarding career!
Like most jobs, it requires the right training and temperament given the nuances and personal nature of the work. After all, image consultants get up close and personal with their clients advising them on a host of issues. Getting started can often be one of the most daunting parts of launching a successful image consulting career. At London Image Institute (LII), we offer current, practical advice and information from expert image consultants.
Before you decide to take the plunge and work in this field, here is a rundown of what you can expect from a career in image consulting.
Stimulating Work
Having the knowledge and skills to enhance a client’s confidence is the best gift anyone can give others. Image consulting is rewarding and a great line of work if you crave creativity, fulfillment, and lots of mental stimulation. Simply put, it is not the type of job where you do the same old thing every day. No two clients are exactly alike and therefore, your job helping them to become their best will be different every time.
As an image consultant, you won’t be stuck behind a desk typing all day. It’s a hands-on, people person job. Your training as an image consultant will often start with appearance services. If you have been trained in the basics, you frequently get the chance to work on color analysis, style, and figure analysis. With every client you get a new experience, which will only sharpen your overall skill level. Image consulting also includes a wide variety of skills focused on a client’s presence, etiquette, and communication. Your services expand in scope and depth as you continue to learn and grow in your profession.
That’s why formal training is so important for an image consultant. What you learn at LII goes beyond appearance services. Once trained, you’ll help clients with all aspects of their personal branding. Poise, demeanor, etiquette, public speaking all coalesce into one’s overarching personal brand. LII specializes in ensuring image consultants are well versed in all these areas. This is what sets a successful image consultant apart from a stylist. There is nothing better than seeing clients light up once you’ve helped them to transform and achieve their over goals.
Work Flexibility
This is a career that allows you to plan your own schedule, and to work in many different environments. You will find yourself working in your studio, at home, presenting to organizations, in the client’s home or office, in boutiques or stores.
Best of all, you can very often set your own hours as you see fit. This is especially attractive to those who have small children or other family members who need their help or if you’re starting on a part-time basis.
The Profession Is in High Demand
People are working with image consultants like never before. It’s not just red-carpet celebrities or prominent politicians who seek their services. People are seeking help with their appearance and their personal brand overall. Social media has no doubt helped to make all of us more aware of our presence and visibility. The average person is very likely to ask a consultant for help if she is promoted, traveling for work or play, facing a stiff interview, a special occasion, or needs a new look at any time in her life or career. Others may want to update their current wardrobe or need shopping services. And make no mistake, men are contracting with image consultants like never before.
All of this is good news for image consultants who not only focus on appearance but work to enhance a client’s entire image. At LII, we are not just stylists who do makeovers. We train image consultants to work with clients’ personalities, goals and lifestyle. We focus on clothing that enhances their color harmonies, body shapes, professional demeanor, and personal presence. We’re focused on personal brand, authority, and performance. The goal is to train image consultants who can draw upon their LII training to help clients become more credible and confident.
The work pays very well, too. Depending on the area, the country and the consultant’s experience, one hour of personal coaching or shopping can net the image consultant anywhere from $50 to several hundred dollars per hour. Since the image consulting profession is always in high demand there’s steady work and your rates may increase as your experience and reputation grow.
Now for The Fine Print….
Work Is Not Permanent
A big plus of the profession is flexibility as image consultants often set their own hours and are their own bosses. The potential downside is a level of business unpredictability. Clients likely come and go, and you must always be thinking about generating new business. There is not always an established routine, salary, or work environment. If you are stimulated by changing and challenging work, you’ll likely thrive in an image consultant’s entrepreneurial world.
People Skills Needed
People skills are an absolute necessity. A top-notch image consultant needs to be flexible and enjoy interacting with all kinds of people. Tact and diplomacy are also important as is patience. As an image consultant, you delve into extremely personal issues related to a client’s body image, budget, and everything in between! Image consultants invest time getting to know each client and their lifestyle so that they can make principle-based recommendations that meet their vision and goals. It’s a partnership that takes time and effort to develop.
Getting Started
Finding clients is not a cinch, and the toughest part is getting started once the image training is over. It’s always wise to have a short but well-reasoned business plan that includes revenue and expense projections. A marketing plan is key too so that you know who your prospective clients are and how you’ll reach them. Think about how you’ll make it through lean times in the early days of your business and how you’ll scale up as your business expands.
A really good tip taught as part of LII training is to market yourself and your services by giving complimentary presentations and mini seminars via talks and videos. Prospective clients are eager for tips on body language, dress, hair and makeup. Seminars and videos are great ways to reach your target audience and cultivate new business. Networking is an invaluable marketing strategy. Choose a small networking group where you can go regularly and get to know everyone. Community groups and associations are always looking for speakers. Have about three to four short presentations that you can market on your website.
Image consulting is a rewarding career. With the right training and understanding of what it takes, you’ll be successful! If you have any further questions about working as a consultant or the pros and cons associated with image consulting, please contact the good folks at London Image Institute. Our expert professionals are always on hand and more than happy to answer any questions!