Best Surface features for photography

Take great photos with the right tools, equipment, and photography tips. Whether you’re using your computer to take your photos or edit and publish them, Microsoft Surface 2-in-1s and laptops have the features you need to create those standout shots.

What 2-in-1 and laptop features are good for taking photos?

You don’t need to lug around heavy, expensive camera equipment to take eye-catching photos. The physical design, built-in software, and Windows 11 programs are some of the features that set Surface devices apart from other photography equipment. Streamline your photography process by keeping in mind the following key features and photography tips:

Think about photo composition

Photo composition is how you arrange the people and objects in your frame before you start snapping pics. Whether you’re using the rule of thirds to help with your image flow or applying symmetry to create balance, a 2-in-1 laptop such as a Surface can give you a full-screen preview of what the photo will look like.

Don’t depend on flash

Although using flash may be a convenient way to brighten your photos, it can cause unwanted reflections and lens shadows in your photos. Try using a natural light source, like the sun or stars, to illuminate your photos. If you’re unsure of how the photo will look on your screen, some devices have adaptive brightness that automatically adjusts your screen’s brightness and contrast levels to see your image more clearly. On the latest Surface devices, auto-focus technology can adjust lighting no matter which camera you use to take photos. You can also manually adjust your Surface camera’s brightness without using the default flash feature.

Clean your lens

Strong photography skills aren’t always technical. Taking a good photo can be as simple as making sure your camera lens is clean. Your device may have a front-facing camera along with the camera on the back. No matter which way you shoot, it’s easy to get finger smudges, oil, and dust on your lens. If you notice that your images are appearing blurry, you might need to stabilize your device or clean its lens.

Clear screen resolution

You might have great photo composition and lighting, but what if your photo shows up blurry or dim when you see the digital image? Low screen resolution could be causing your image to appear poorly. Your device’s pixels-per-inch (PPI) capacity is one factor that controls clarity on the screen.

Space to store your photos

As an avid photographer, you’ll need plenty of space to store your photos. While you can store images in the cloud on OneDrive, you may want to keep them on your hard drive for offline access.

A built-in photo editing program

You don’t have to spend a ton of money on different photo editing programs when you have a Surface laptop or 2-in-1 PC. The latest Surface devices come pre-loaded with Windows 11. Windows 11 includes a photos app you can use to store, organize, and edit your photos. Use the Windows 11 Photos and Movie Editor to make technical edits like cropping and adjusting the brightness of your photos. With built-in photo editing features, your Surface device can help you from the beginning to the end of your photography session.

Strong graphics card

Even if your device has fast processing, you’ll need a strong GPU to clearly see the photos before you edit them. Surface Laptops and 2-in-1 PCs are packed with the state-of-the-art GPU options, like the Intel® Iris® Xᵉ and NVIDIA® GeForce RTXᵀᴹ, that make it easy to view high-resolution photos even if they’re large files. You might not need as much editing as you’d think when you can quickly see your photos in crisp quality.

Surface devices are created with features and designs to hone your photography skills. You don’t need to break the bank when shopping for a photography laptop. Find a Surface device that comes in the design you like with the features you need at a price point that’s comfortable for your budget.