Q: Why can I not see my iPhone on my laptop

Use iTunes.

Please get iPhone User Guide for iOS 8.1.

Hasn't been the case for years. You must use iTunes to connect with the iPhone regardless of what you may expect. It is pretty simple.

iTunes is the app for syncing, updating, and backing up your iPhone. Even if you don’t use iTunes for music or movies you still need to use it for your iPhone.  There is an excellent third party app available called iMazing that does all of that plus allows dragging and dropping of files to/from the iPhone but iTunes is the default app for managing iOS devices.

http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/27830/imazing

Hi if you used itunes/ iCloud all your photos would be on all

Your Apple devices.

Also when you charge iphone /iPad it would automatically

Backup to iCloud .

We have 2 iPhones / 3ipads and haven't used our PC

For over 2Years everything done over WiFi .

Cheers

Brian (UK )

By the way, Kappy provided a link to the iOS 8.1 iPhone User Guide.

Here is a more recent version (iOS 8.4):

iPhone User Guide for iOS 8.4

This explains the process:

Sync photos from your computer to your iOS device using iTunes - Apple Support

Sorry, this is more pertinent:

Import photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your Mac or Windows PC - Apple Support

If your Mac uses Yosemite, you can use AirDrop to get the photo.

Use AirDrop to send files from your Mac to another nearby Mac or iOS device - Apple Support

Share content with AirDrop from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

We cannot speculate in these forums about why Apple products behave or do not behave the way they do.

Frankly, it makes perfect sense to me.  This shows yet another way in which Apple has integrated hardware and software.  But some folks will certainly disagree.  That's why some folks prefer Android to iOS.