I need a Windows machine and am very satisfied with my Dell XPS 15 laptop for LR and PS. This is my second one. My wife has Mac and likes that for her photography work, and we have no problem sharing resources in out studio. I also have a custom build desktop for photography that cost less than the laptop, and is also Windows.

It sounds to me like you’re building a portfolio and making contacts in order to develop a future line of business. If so, then yes it’s deductible from other lines of business. Is it good business to travel all of that way? That’s for you to decide, but as long as the expenses are reasonable the IRS won’t question them. You are expected to show an overall profit eventually. (This is what my CPA told me.)