Meet Nina Cornelison: Graphic Designer & Photo Editor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nina Cornelison and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nina, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Work-life balance didn’t even exist for me a few years ago! First starting out in my career, I would work an unlimited amount of hours and schedule my personal time around my job. It was what I thought it took to succeed and really showcase my work ethic. I didn’t have a cap on time spent for work nor did I ever really think of valuing any type of self care. Work-life balance wasn’t a thing. After years of working in a corporate setting to owning my own business, my definition of balance has really evolved. It has actually become easier to fulfill now which is kind of funny because now I am juggling a small business, full-time job and a family! I think of  “balance” is that it’s whatever you want it to be and what works for you. I don’t think there is a one size fits all when it comes to creating a space of balance. I learned that each piece of the pie does not have to be equal parts and that thinking has actually helped me. I am a little less stressed vs when I used to try to have every priority or task get an equal size. I give whatever amount of time a task or responsibility may need from me that day or that moment. Time blocking is a great help! Setting boundaries has also become important to me. I didn’t know how to set boundaries before and really felt guilty if I did, but I have slowly become more comfortable in doing so. The biggest slice of pie, for me will alway be me and my family and I keep that top of my mind when I tend to get into the throes of work. I think it’s super important to give yourself some grace when trying to juggle all the things. 

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
You know how they say your path doesn’t always lead you to where you think you’re going? That’s pretty much the definition of my career. I graduated with an Associates degree in Graphic Design and Multimedia and got my first job as an Operations Assistant for the Fine Art Department at a large auction house in Dallas. The only art related thing about that was the actual art itself. I entered a product and packed it. It was all about getting my foot in the door to work my way into the design department. However, needless to say that’s not exactly how it went. They had a huge workflow of photography and editing, heard I knew a little bit of Photoshop and decided I was perfect to train to be a Digital/Color specialist. When I tell you I knew nothing of how to look at color in that way or really clean up a background in Photoshop, I knew nothing.  It was a sink or swim scenario and involved falling and getting back up. After just a few months of training I became the lead and only retoucher for the entire Fine Art Department. The workflow consisted of up to 4 or 5 sales that would have anywhere from 500 to 800 lots and x that by 3 images each, well you do the math on what was there to edit. I would work up till midnight sometimes and go on press checks that would have an approval every few hours for 24 hours straight. It could be 2 days long sometimes, but I loved doing it. That was a tough learning process but I wasn’t going to fail and I just kept going. I became the lead of that photography department and eventually grew a team and learned some great skill sets from some very talented coworkers. I became an expert in color, crazy right? I still kept my design skills going in the back end and doing projects for friends and family. My younger sister and I created a graphic design business as well, that we named after our mom, called Love Betty Designs. Eventually I wanted more and took the leap to finishing up my BFA to get back into Graphic Design professionally. I made it through 3 years of night school and juggling jobs to keep ends met and found myself at an interview with the Sr. Art Director at Pier 1 Imports. She had fallen in love with my portfolio and wanted to hire me. I worked 3 years there, getting to senior level and had a lot of professional and personal growth at that time. You know there was a time that I thought that being a head designer at a big corporation was the ultimate goal for me. Maybe because I was finally at a different point in my life I soon realized it really wasn’t. Throughout my journey I have learned so much and some things I learned a very hard way. Some of the lessons I learned was to really never turn away from a door opening that you may have never even thought of knocking on. Does that make sense? lol. I also learned that following your gut, and what feels right to you is actually, what you should do. It’s ok that if you reach your “career goal” and then realize hmmm it’s not really what I want anymore or what I thought it would be. Then that’s ok! I had to overcome a lot of fear, doubt, and personal challenges and having the support of family and just the push to keep going is honestly how I have come this far. I think what really sets me apart from others in my field is that my path ended up taking me to be experienced in both design and post production work such as photo editing. I want the world to know that all the challenges and experiences I faced on my journey have shaped me to who I am now and I carry all that into my very own brand. I have a passion to help others and I am blessed to be able to use my talents in a way to do that. I had a lot of help along the way in being mentored and supported and I 100% give the same support to the clients I serve. One more thing, and I think it’s very important-Respect the people you meet along the way, make great connections and keep solid relationships because I contribute a lot of opportunities that came my way to those people I’ve met.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If you’re visiting me then we are going to my fave local restaurant that is 5 minutes from the house, Mac’s Bar & Grill. Full transparency, that was my first real long term job. I got it senior year and worked there for almost 8 years! Remember, I said I make great connections along the way? lol. The food is awesome and I get to support friends at the same time. We will then do a Dallas trip, cause you can not not visit D-town. If there is a Mavericks game going on we are going! And before that we will have a tasty margarita at Betos and Son in the Trinity Grove. The outdoor seating is the best! After the casual festivities I love getting the chance to dress it up a bit and have one of the best made dirty martinis over at Hotel Zaza. I know all my close friends reading this just laughed because they know that’s my jam. I just love the decor there and the flatbread pizza is the best night snack. Before my guest leaves, we have to show them Fort Worth! Can I say that I am a sucker for Mi Cocina and their food with a fresh Mambo Taxi. I definitely like to show off that place. Around the corner are some tasty treats for dessert at the FunkyTown Donuts bakery.  It’s so hard to narrow down cause there are so many awesome little places here to visit.  Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It’s hard to narrow down, because it’s mostly all the people that I built close relationships with along the way. The ones that have mentored me, supported me and most of all were there for me. I honestly probably would have never taken the first small steps in actually starting a small business if it wasn’t for one of my very best friends, Michelle Jones of Peyronet Photography. Back in 2011 I chose to go back to night school. As for most, it wasn’t the ideal timing, I had a family, my son was only about 2 and I had a full-time job. My husband had just completed his schooling and was starting out in the mechanic world also working late hours. Michelle gave me a part time job as her studio coordinator and photo editor. I had all the experience in color but had never worked on weddings or in Lightroom. She took me under her wing and showed me all the skills. Fast forward to 2015 or so I was ready for a little side hustle and Michelle was more than happy to send all her editing to me, lol. For the longest time I kept thinking I could totally bring this into a small business but with work and all the things it just seemed crazy at times.  Another big factor was I was scared, I was worried about what I didn’t know if that makes sense. How does one even start? Michelle once again took me under her wing and literally invested in me. She’s alway providing support, even in the boring stuff like getting my money right haha, and has been pushing me ever since. I think we both need each other as I push her when she needs it and she pushes me. I really don’t think I would be doing what I am doing if she never ever gave me the opportunity back then or now. I still edit for her and as she says, I never will stop, lol. I also have to give the same credit to my husband. He has always supported me throughout my entire career. My husband is my rock and my ground in all this. Not to mention he also is part of my business and helps me with the stuff that my creative brain just can’t handle, like accounting.

Website: ninamco.com, ninamarie.carbonmade.com
Instagram: ninamco_photo_editor
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nina-cornelison-ba622212/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ninamco.editing

Image Credits
Family portraits and headshots photos by Peyronet Photography