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4848 Highway 11
Pelham, AL 35124
United States
205-427-1144
Arden Ward Upton, known for her keen eye and southern style. Has curated gifts for wedding, lifestyle and original art. Arden has worked as a photographer for over a decade photographing some of the South's most exclusive weddings as well as weddings all over the world. During her time as a photographer she has developed a distinctive look and style that is shared on this site and with her customers throughout the years. Arden is also known for her fine art photography available in limited signed editions.
Filtering by Tag: #bravotv
In honor of the season finale of Jersey Belle I stopped by to see Jaime Primak Sullivan to teach her how to #RBF
These are my tips on how to #RBF yourself
1. Relax all the muscles in your face
2. Stare through everything
3. Exude Mona Lisa, she was the original
I moved out when I was 17 with an aluminum folding chair, a mattress on the floor and a 13 inch kitchen TV. I’ve had just about every kind of job you can think of: selling siding, selling water purification systems, working retail, waiting tables and the worst was printing photos for the Department of Public Safety in New Mexico. I will never get the images of animal brutality or homicides out of my mind. I am glad my photography career has progressed from that, but the list of odd jobs could go on and on. I have a strong opinion, but I feel like I’ve earned it. What I can say is no matter what’s been going on in my life I’ve never acted the victim. I’ve taken it all in stride. I have made plenty of mistakes along the way, but I hold myself accountable for them.
My whole life I’ve been a dreamer and it’s dreaming that saved me from my childhood reality. A broken family and a broken spirit are two very different things. I always dreamed of growing up to live in a house like I watched in the movies. One where within the walls are security and happiness. A place where the power doesn’t get turned off and there is a fridge full of food.
I believe the American dream is still fully available to those who work hard and dream big. I’ve worked hard since I was 14. I've supported myself, and at times others, since I was 17. I am the American dream in my mind. I feel like if you can have the courage to believe in the fairy tale and never give up anyone can make it happen.
The House I lived in until I was 8 in Eastlake.
The house I lived in during high school in Pinson.
My dad's house the best place in Forest Park.
Opening up about having a difficult childhood was both scary and liberating. The scary part was openly admitting that my life wasn't as rosie as I would have hoped for and also being afraid of judgement for that. I feel like the way everyone sees me now is only a small slice of the pie.
What I learned is that so many people have experienced something similar to my story. I had no idea that insecurities about smiling would be a common thread or that earning love as a child would be as well.
I am so inspired by the amount of people who reached out to me about their own personal stories. It is nice to know that others share in healing and I hope to keep this conversation going.
Big Smiles with William!
It is two fold.
First, I smile but I don’t give my smiles away for free it has to be my true emotion. I have always been like this. It stems from my childhood. I would say that my childhood was unpleasant at best. As a matter of fact, I don’t even feel like I really had one at all. I can remember times when I was happy with my father and he was a great father but unless I was with him I felt unloved. I grew up in a house that would give you a feeling of manipulated emotions or that love had to be earned. A merit based love as a child has never created someone who smiles all the time I am sure. And a tough childhood doesn’t make a carefree attitude in adulthood.
In addition to this style childhood, I have spent from my early teens until I was 30 being embarrassed of my smile. At the age of 30 I was finally in a position to do something about my teeth but until then I practiced covering them when I talked and a smile in a picture was either forced or because someone actually took a photo of me laughing. Thankfully now a newfound confident smile is slowly emerging. I credit my orthodontist with emergence of a happy unashamed smile!
Want to know something else? You ask, I’ll tell.
Before Braces
William brings out the big smiles in me!
More big smiles with William
Who is hooked and can't stop watching?
A stable favorite of ours "Quest" makes a cameo appearance on Bravo Tv Show Jersey Belle. I am riding him in this trailer and be sure to watch Jersey Belle on Bravo TV Monday nights 10/9c to see more of Quest, William, myself, the star of the show Jaime Primak Sullivan and the rest of the Birmingham Belles .
I hope everyone will tune in or DVR the season. 8 days and counting! Our group of Belles will make you laugh, make you cry and hopefully make you want to be Southern.
