Carter Ward was born in Washington, DC and raised in Montgomery County, Maryland. In 2012, he graduated from Fordham University with a degree in English Language and Literature. It was in New York City that he first discovered his love for film and storytelling, working as an assistant on several short and feature films. In 2015, Ward moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in filmmaking, and in 2021, he founded the production company Arden Pictures. The company's first film is Step Back, Doors Closing (2024). Ward served as writer, director, and producer.