Windows Live Photo Gallery is a part of the Windows Essentials suite of freeware applications from Microsoft. It is a photo editing application that allows users to import, export, download, share and edit photos.

If you already use Windows applications, the Windows Live Photo Gallery's user interface will instantly put you at ease. It has the look and feel of most Windows applications. The buttons and commands are all placed in the familiar ribbon toolbar located at the top of the window.

Other command buttons are located directly below the ribbon for easy access, such as the tagging button. The application initially displays imported photos in the default gallery view. To view a specific photo, simply double-click it to expand it. When the image is displayed, new command buttons appear at the bottom of the screen that allows you to zoom and rotate it.

Double-clicking the image again returns the view to gallery mode. Additionally, you can also scroll through the images in gallery mode by using your mouse wheel or the arrows on your keyboard.

The method to import an image is similar to other Microsoft programs. However, you can also add tags, time and a date in addition to the name of the image during the importation process. The software allows the importation of most image files. If the program has a problem importing your files, it will direct you to the appropriate website where you can download a codec to facilitate the importation of your images.

You are also able to take advantage of a number of photo editing options that are available. Noise reduction, red-eye correction, cropping and color correction are examples of some of the editing tools available. Geo-tagging and face tagging are advanced options which are also available. These tools allow you to identify and share your images more fluidly online and with other users.

The application's general performance is quick and responsive. It is a quality product for an entry-level photo editing and sharing application.