Photography is all about creativity, and sometimes the most unexpected household items can help you achieve unique and stunning effects. Whether you’re looking to add dreamy aesthetics, creative reflections, or dynamic lighting, everyday objects can become powerful tools to enhance your photography.

A mirror is one of the most versatile objects you can use in photography. Placing a small mirror in front of your lens at an angle can create intriguing reflections, doubling your subject or adding symmetry to your shot. For more experimental results, using multiple mirrors can lead to abstract and surreal compositions. You can also tilt a handheld mirror toward the sky to capture dreamy, nature-inspired reflections in portraits.

A simple flashlight can transform the mood of your images. When used in a dark setting, a flashlight can create dramatic shadows, highlight details, or be moved around during a long exposure to paint with light. Wrapping colored cellophane or transparent candy wrappers around the light can introduce different color tones to your shots, giving them an artistic feel.

Bubble wrap is another surprising tool that can add depth and texture to your photography. Holding a piece of bubble wrap close to your lens and slightly out of focus can create an interesting blurred foreground effect. When combined with light sources, bubble wrap can also generate mesmerizing bokeh, adding a magical touch to portraits and still-life photography.

A water spray bottle can replicate the look of raindrops or condensation on glass, perfect for moody and cinematic images. Spraying a fine mist onto a clear surface, such as a window or even a sheet of plastic, allows you to create dreamy and romantic visuals. Experimenting with backlighting can further enhance the reflections and depth of the droplets.

A simple kitchen colander can work as a creative light modifier. Shining a strong light source through the perforations will project patterned shadows onto your subject or background. This technique is especially effective for portrait photography, adding an artistic, high-fashion look to images. Similarly, lace fabric or leaves can be used to create interesting dappled lighting effects.

Tinfoil can be an excellent DIY reflector or backdrop. Crumpling aluminum foil and placing it behind your subject can create a dazzling, bokeh-like background when light hits it. You can also use a smooth sheet of tinfoil to bounce light onto your subject, helping to brighten shadows in portraits or macro photography.

A magnifying glass can serve as a fun way to add distortion, magnify details, or create artistic effects. Holding it in front of the camera lens while slightly adjusting its position can lead to surreal, dreamlike images with a soft-focus effect. This works particularly well for close-up shots, bringing a new perspective to everyday objects.

Sunglasses can double as a creative filter for your camera lens. Holding a tinted pair in front of the lens can introduce warm, golden tones, or create a polarized effect that enhances the colors of the sky and water. Gradient sunglasses can be used to mimic the effect of professional gradient filters, subtly darkening the sky while keeping the lower part of the image naturally exposed.

Even a piece of clear plastic or a Ziploc bag can create interesting lens effects. Wrapping a transparent plastic sheet loosely around your lens and shooting through it can produce a soft-focus, vintage-style blur. Adding a bit of color to the edges with a marker or placing a few drops of water on the plastic can introduce additional creative elements.