Why Hire an Image Consultant?
If you’re looking for a way to improve your personal or professional image, an image consultant might be the answer for you. Image consulting has grown in popularity over recent years, as people come to realize the importance of distinguishing themselves in the workplace. It’s also useful to enhance how you appear in your dating profile and on social media. But, while looking into hiring an image consultant, you might fear that it costs an arm and a leg or takes forever! The experts at London Image Institute want to weigh in to show you the basics of getting an image consultant. Read on to see exactly how long it takes to work with an image consultant and how they can help your personal and professional presentation.
As more and more of our lives are spent in digital public spaces, our online image is becoming increasingly important and influential. With social media now as one of the first touchpoints of most businesses, it’s important to put your best foot forward into the world. That’s why your personal brand is more essential than ever. The benefits from the services of an image consultant can absolutely outweigh the time and money invested.
A large part of your success in business and personal life has to do with your presentation and the crafting of your Personal Brand or how you stand out from the crowd. Personal branding includes your visual, verbal, and nonverbal communication. That means the way you look, speak, act, and behave. Consider the power you would have knowing how to upgrade your visual and verbal credibility! Not only that, with these skills you could control the perception of others have of you, whenever you appear in the public eye.
An Unbiased Perspective
In a world where people struggle to get out of their own way and regularly self-sabotage without realizing, it pays to have someone in your corner who is not beholden to the barrage of preexisting thoughts in your head. With your future in mind, Image Consultants are able to sidestep that commentary, providing the client with all the tools that they need to become the best possible version of themselves. They take a bird’s eye view of the clients’ life, providing them with a fresh perspective that would be hard to come by anywhere else.
The client may not always know exactly how to go about creating his own personal brand. He may not be as self-aware as needed because his mind is in a million other places. Think about it. Unless you have been given specific training on appearance and presentations for example, you rely on old habits, or skills you have picked up along the way. An overhaul of new trends in professional presence skills is a worthwhile process.
The Personal Approach
There are many steps involved to finding your perfect look with an image consultant. The fundamental services to start your transformation are likely to be color, style, and body analysis. A personal color analysis includes the most flattering color palette for your skin, hair, and eyes. Consultants might also give suggestions on your hair color, hair cut or style and makeup. You will receive a personal color palette and how to mix and match unusual color harmonies. Wearing the right colors makes the greatest difference to your appearance. Clients report that they look younger, healthier, and more radiant!
An image consultation will help you create the styles you need for your new professional or personal image. The image of a Miami real estate agent will vary greatly from that of a professor at a conservative university. Your image consultant can guide you toward the best choices for your lifestyle, your goals for advancement and how to increase your credibility or become more approachable.
Your consultant will recommend the most flattering cuts, fabrics, and combinations for your body type by analyzing your body shape and proportions. For example, they might suggest the most appropriate styles and heel height if you are petite, or the best designers if you need updated formal wear. Men frequently need to know the best jacket and suit styles if they are too broad in the chest for an off- the-peg slim fit suit. These style recommendations will help you feel confident and comfortable while meeting your professional and personal style goals.
The consultant’s next step is to go through your wardrobe by season and function. She will weed out the clothes that don’t fit, don’t flatter and are the incorrect color. One misconception is that the consultant tosses out most of your clothing for a completely fresh start. Not true! A consultant often repurposes your items and can see the possibilities of mixing and matching where you were not able to. Even after one wardrobe session you can end up with fewer clothes but more outfits to wear!
Finally, a good consultant might compose a personalized shopping list, which will make shopping much easier. With their recommendations on clothing lines that fit your style, body shape and aesthetic, you can easily shop online or in stores for brands that suit your budget.
Some image consultants will also shop for you. Once your image consultant knows your lifestyle and personal or professional clothing needs, the styles which suit you, your color palette and your body and proportions she can look for the perfect fit, fabric, and styles. She will shop in capsules, or groups of clothes to save you time and money.
How Long Do I Need to Work with an Image Consultant?
In most cases, experienced image consultants offer packages of different value. You could sign on for a few sessions with your image consultant or check out her process and her style in an online presentation or in a seminar.
Depending on the level of service, you could have a new image in a few weeks or months. Longer packages of several months duration or a monthly arrangement can include all the appearance information as well as professional presence. This might include services such as presentation techniques on and offline, networking, leadership, interview skills, social and business etiquette, and coaching.
Usually, it all starts with a thirty to sixty-minute consultation to discuss your needs. This could be complimentary if you haven’t decided to hire her. In this first session, whether in-person or online, your consultant will ask about your style challenges and professional goals. She will ask you specific questions and request that you send her several photographs. This will help your image consultant analyze your facial features, build and aesthetic preferences in detail.
If you decide to go ahead with the consultant you will have a second consultation when the image consultant will outline the services that will be covered to address your needs, and the timeframe and costs involved. Color, style, and body analysis are the usual initial services that give the consultant the basic but important information on which to base other services. This initial package might take several sessions over a few weeks.
Once you embark on your consultations your consultant might make you a personal photo portfolio and workbook with all the recommendations from the consultation. You can study it further and use it as needed.
The second package might include the basics of the first package, followed by a wardrobe consultation. These consist of an audit session, an organization session, and a session to find outfits and groups of clothes which mix and match for work and play. From there she is likely to include picture boards full of suggestions from your wardrobe of outfits or capsules of clothing to wear together.
Other services include the mood board (or Pinterest board) which compiles images of outfits that the consultant thinks works best for you. The consultant will probably give you suggestions on brands and styles to try. Sometimes they create a specific shopping list for you.
The third package might include all the services of the first two packages and in addition, seasonal shopping sessions and any other specialized services. The consultant does a pre-shop and then meets you in store for a couple of hours while you try on things and make a final selection. A further hour or so might be spent on accessories. Any longer will be quite tiring and less productive.
Longer packages of several months duration or a monthly arrangement can include all the appearance information as well as professional presence. This might include services such as presentation techniques on and offline, networking, leadership, interview skills, social and business etiquette, and coaching.
If you are looking to hire an image consultant, this timeline can help you understand the process. The time it takes to perfect this relationship is well worth the investment. Follow this timeline from the London Image Institute, where we always strive to help you look your best. After all, a great image consultant isn’t just styling you, they are also teaching you lifelong styling principles that you can put into action yourself. Contact us today.