If you haven’t yet mastered the inner workings of a camera, simple photography tricks can help you a great deal. Recently, professional photographer Mathias Fast has shared a zero-budget photography hack on how to improve your portraits by adding reflections, and it will take every beginner’s wedding photography shots to a whole new level.

The secret is simple. A phone screen. Using it as a reflective surface, people can easily get rid of undesired elements entering the frame or add intrigue to a simple composition. “I’m hardly the first person to use it but “discovered” it for myself at a wedding one day when I was photographing the bride getting ready,” Mathias told Bored Panda. “The bridesmaids had their phones lying on the table and I saw the reflections they were creating. I realized that at the right angle and distance I could incorporate the reflection(s) into a photograph while disguising the fact that they were coming from a phone.”

Mathias has been shooting wedding photos professionally close to 6 six years now. “A phone is almost always in my pocket which is why I find it such a handy tool to use,” he added. “I try not to overuse it (like with anything it can get gimmicky if used too much) but definitely incorporate it a couple times throughout a wedding or portrait session. Sometimes the effects are subtle, sometimes they are much more dramatic. My goal is always to have the viewer pause for a second and try to figure out what is going on in the beautiful photos.”

Fast also pointed out that this photo idea isn’t limited to phone screens. “When I’m photographing, my eyes are constantly being drawn to anything remotely reflective that I can use to frame the subject with. Counter-tops, windows – I’ve even used the surface of my watch to bounce some interesting light into a scene.” Scroll down to check out how it works and if you want to learn more, fire up these 10+ Genius Camera Hacks That Will Greatly Improve Your Photography Skills In Less Than 3 Minutes.

More info: mathiasfastphotography.com | Facebook | Instagram

One guy has discovered a genius way to make your portraits look dreamy

Image credits: Mathias Fast

And this zero-budget hack doesn’t require Photoshop as well

Image credits: Mathias Fast

The only thing you need is your phone

Image credits: Mathias Fast

 “Start by holding your phone on a horizontal plane to the bottom edge of your lens”

Image credits: Mathias Fast

“As you look through the viewfinder you’ll see part of the scene reflecting onto the lower part of the image”

Image credits: Mathias Fast

“Simply adjust the phone slightly (while still holding it close the edge of the lens) until you see a reflection that you like:”

Image credits: Mathias Fast

Here’s the result!

Image credits: Mathias Fast

Image credits: Mathias Fast

Image credits: Mathias Fast

Image credits: Mathias Fast

Image credits: Mathias Fast

Image credits: Mathias Fast

Image credits: Mathias Fast

Here’s what people thought about the trick:

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