The EquEstrian lifestyle

Since I was a little girl, horses have always had a special place in my heart. These creatures are so important to us and play so many roles in our lives, from competitive partners and dear friends to being a fully-integrated member of our families. It is my passion to capture this unique, beautiful understanding we have with our 1200lb counterparts through beautiful, personal imagery.

All sessions are fully guided and tailored to you and your horse. A signed contract and retainer lock in your date. I am here to help you figure out your outfit choices, location options, and am happy to accommodate for any special requests you may have!

Essentials Collection


45 Minutes of Coverage
1 Outfit
30+ Images Delivered via Private Online Gallery
License to Share Online & Print

$850

Reserve Collection


75 Minutes of Coverage
Up to 2 Outfits
60+ Images Delivered via Private Online Gallery
Black & White Backgrounds Included
Thumb Drive of High-Resolution Images
Keepsake Box of 4x6 Prints
License to Share Online & Print

$1200

Platinum Collection


2 Hours of Coverage
Up to 4 Outfits
100+ Images Delivered via Private Online Gallery
Black & White Backgrounds Included
Thumb Drive of High-Resolution Images
Keepsake Box of 4x6 Prints
License to Share Online & Print
25% off Print Orders

$1,750

Silver Collection


For our very best and oldest friends. This discounted package is specifically for senior horses (18+ years old) or horses who are terminally ill.

The Silver Collection includes all offerings of the Reserve Collection.

$950

Sample Session


View Sample Gallery

FAQ

What should I do to prepare?

All sessions offered by Alaina Hower Photography are laid back, low-stress experiences. The amount of preparation is completely up to you, but there are several suggestions. Outfit changes may be available depending on sessions, so make sure to bring different options. Always dress appropriately for the weather, but you can wear anything from casual, dress, or horse show attire. Having hair and make up done is highly recommended (I can point you to some fabulous local makeup artists), but I encourage you to prepare yourself in a way that makes you the most comfortable!
As for the horses, I'd suggest you do whatever show preparation that you might do for a competition, for example: clipped, clean, hooves painted, and clean/oiled tack. If your horse is known to be fresh, I also suggest a ride or a lunge before to make sure the session is super relaxed for both horse and rider! I also always recommend having a second person there to help - perked-ear duty is a very important job and makes a big difference in quality of photos.

How will I receive my images?

Digitals are included in every session package that I offer! I love being able to give clients the ability to share their images with friends and family online. The digitals you receive are considered ‘digital proofs’ and will be sent for social media use only. These images are not permitted to be printed except through my professional printing labs to achieve the very highest quality. You will receive your images via email with a link to a personalized online gallery from which you can download the files straight to your computer. Completion of images depends on the type of session, but my typical turn around is 3-4 weeks.

Can I post my images on social media?

I highly encourage you share images with your friends! Credit is always very appreciated (most of my clientele comes from word of mouth) but not required. If you want to credit, tag Alaina Hower Photography on Facebook or @alainahowerphotography on Instagram. I love seeing images posted, so tagging also has the awesome side-effect of notifying me when you do!

Can I purchase printing rights?

Absolutely! If you’d like to purchase High Resolution Digitals with the ability to print yourself, I do sell Printing Rights to the images in the your session, as well as other images you see in my selected galleries. If you’d like to purchase printing rights, please inquire for pricing.

How do I pay for a session?

There are several options to choose from. If you wish to pay online with credit card, there will be an option to pay online when I send you the online contract! I also take cash, check, Venmo, Paypal, or whatever is easiest for you.
All sessions require a $100 security deposit that will be applied towards your final balance. The deposit must be paid in order to hold your session date and will only be refunded if the session is forced to be cancelled due to inclement weather. If I’m unable to make the session for whatever reason, the deposit will also be returned. 

Do you charge a travel fee?

Travel fees may be included depending on distance, but will always be discussed with you prior to booking. Generally, for trips traveling outside of my general location (the San Francisco Peninsula) that require flying, bridge/freeway tolls, or driving long distances, I charge a flat fee for all clients to cover travel expenses. If you're not sure if this will apply to you, you are more than welcome to ask! 

What time of day do your shoots typically happen?

Because the warm, soft, golden light found in the last two hours of the day is the most beautiful and flattering, that's when I prefer to schedule my sessions. Early morning light, found in the first two hours of the day, is also a candidate for excellent photos. 

Can I order prints of my images?

Of course! I work with a fabulous print shop to offer you physical prints in multiple sizes. Each of your photos is a piece of fine art and should be appreciated as such, whether on your wall or in an album on your coffee table. There are plenty of options and prices available, and if you have a size not listed on my product page linked above you may certainly request a custom option - I almost always can breathe life into your vision!

Can you Photoshop my image?

In a past life I was actually a VFX artist in Hollywood, specifically a matte painter. If you don't know what I'm talking about, those are the guys who replace greenscreens with fabricated backgrounds in film and TV. In a nutshell, I've been using Photoshop for over 20 years and and can accomplish mostly anything with enough time and effort.
A lot of work goes into portraits to make them flawless, which includes touch-ups. Don't be worried about scratches, scars, or other blemishes. If you are or feel that I missed something, feel free to ask and I will remove them free of charge.
That being said, even with extensive training in Photoshop, it is exceptionally difficult to clean a dirty animal or fix your hair with post-processing. The cleaner and tidier the better! There are some things that are simply not in the scope of my photography offerings - if you're determined to have a particular edit, let's discuss the time and resources it'll take to help you achieve your vision and we can go from there!

Where do sessions take place?

Most sessions take place where the horse lives and is most comfortable. Don't worry if you think it's not a beautiful place, I am good at finding the beauty most anywhere! You can also trailer to a nice park if you feel that's a better option for you and your horse. 

Do you only do horse photography?

I am, at my very core, an animal person. Horses are my passion and I do my best work when I'm pointing my lens at them. That being said, I am open to new endeavors! If you have something in mind, please reach out and we can chat about your ideas. Even if I may not be suited to your project, I may know of someone who is and I'd be more than happy to help point you in the right direction!

How do you calculate cost?

This is a reasonable question but it can be uncomfortable to ask! While you are only able to observe me while we're working together to capture your photos, a lot happens behind the scenes. I usually will capture over 1000 photos during a session. I take the time to go through and identify the very best images, carefully inspecting for ideal expressions and tack-sharp clarity. Once I've performed quality control and identified gallery candidates, I go through and hand-edit each photo. If there's something undesirable in the background, like hair in your face, a pile of poop in the background, or anything else unsightly, I carefully photoshop the images to perfection. During this process I might use up to 4 different software packages. This is doubly true for black background shoots and even more so for white backgrounds. The shoot itself is only a small fraction of the time I spend working to preserve your memories in with incomparable quality.

Time spent, software used, workshops attended to keep my knowledge cutting-edge and industry-standard, and my 10+ years of experience as a creative professional all factor in to the prices you see here.

What if I am unhappy with my pictures?

It is incredibly important to me that my clients are over the moon with their images. If you're not happy with your photos, I am committed to making it right and will reshoot you at no extra charge or will refund your package entirely. Satisfaction is assumed once a photo is downloaded from the gallery or a print is ordered.