diff --git a/dlib/geometry/vector.h b/dlib/geometry/vector.h
index 47cc86e3d..56ef5d67c 100644
--- a/dlib/geometry/vector.h
+++ b/dlib/geometry/vector.h
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include "../serialize.h"
 #include <functional>
 #include <iostream>
+#include "../matrix/matrix.h"
 
 namespace dlib
 {
@@ -73,6 +74,35 @@ namespace dlib
 
         // ---------------------------------------
 
+        template <typename EXP>
+        vector ( const matrix_exp<EXP>& m)
+        {
+            // make sure requires clause is not broken
+            DLIB_ASSERT((m.nr() == 1 || m.nc() == 1) && m.size() == 3,
+                "\t vector(const matrix_exp& m)"
+                << "\n\t the given matrix is of the wrong size"
+                << "\n\t m.nr():   " << m.nr() 
+                << "\n\t m.nc():   " << m.nc() 
+                << "\n\t m.size(): " << m.size() 
+                << "\n\t this: " << this
+                );
+            x_value = m(0);
+            y_value = m(1);
+            z_value = m(2);
+        }
+
+        template <long NR, long NC, typename MM>
+        operator matrix<T,NR, NC, MM> () const
+        {
+            matrix<T,3,1> m;
+            m(0) = x_value;
+            m(1) = y_value;
+            m(2) = z_value;
+            return m;
+        }
+
+        // ---------------------------------------
+
         ~vector (
         ){}
 
diff --git a/dlib/geometry/vector_abstract.h b/dlib/geometry/vector_abstract.h
index 3be990fd3..d30b33180 100644
--- a/dlib/geometry/vector_abstract.h
+++ b/dlib/geometry/vector_abstract.h
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include "../serialize.h"
 #include <functional>
 #include <iostream>
+#include "../matrix/matrix_abstract.h"
 
 namespace dlib
 {
@@ -80,6 +81,35 @@ namespace dlib
                 - #z() == v.z() 
         !*/
 
+        template <typename EXP>
+        vector ( 
+            const matrix_exp<EXP>& m
+        );
+        /*!
+            requires
+                - m.size() == 3
+                - m.nr() == 1 || m.nc() == 1 (i.e. m must be a row or column matrix)
+            ensures
+                - #x() == m(0)
+                - #y() == m(1)
+                - #z() == m(2)
+        !*/
+
+        template <long NR, long NC, typename MM>
+        operator matrix<T,NR, NC, MM> (
+        ) const;
+        /*!
+            ensures
+                - provides automatic conversions from a vector object to a column 
+                  matrix
+                - returns a matrix object m such that:
+                    - m.nr() == 3
+                    - m.nc() == 1
+                    - m(0) == x()
+                    - m(1) == y()
+                    - m(2) == z()
+        !*/
+
         ~vector (
         );
         /*!
diff --git a/dlib/matrix/matrix_utilities.h b/dlib/matrix/matrix_utilities.h
index 6ec48a298..63cf422c4 100644
--- a/dlib/matrix/matrix_utilities.h
+++ b/dlib/matrix/matrix_utilities.h
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #include <complex>
 #include <limits>
 #include "../pixel.h"
-#include "../geometry.h"
+#include "../geometry/rectangle.h"
 #include "../stl_checked.h"
 #include <vector>
 
diff --git a/dlib/test/geometry.cpp b/dlib/test/geometry.cpp
index ef5914627..c72920d78 100644
--- a/dlib/test/geometry.cpp
+++ b/dlib/test/geometry.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include <cstdlib>
 #include <ctime>
 #include <dlib/string.h>
+#include <dlib/matrix.h>
 
 #include "tester.h"
 
@@ -102,6 +103,32 @@ namespace
         DLIB_CASSERT(sin,"");
         DLIB_CASSERT(sin.get() == EOF,"");
 
+
+        v1.x() = 1;
+        v1.y() = 2;
+        v1.z() = 3;
+
+        matrix<double> mv = v1;
+        DLIB_CASSERT(mv.nr() == 3,"");
+        DLIB_CASSERT(mv.nc() == 1,"");
+        DLIB_CASSERT(mv(0) == 1,"");
+        DLIB_CASSERT(mv(1) == 2,"");
+        DLIB_CASSERT(mv(2) == 3,"");
+
+        set_all_elements(mv,0);
+        DLIB_CASSERT(mv(0) == 0,"");
+        DLIB_CASSERT(mv(1) == 0,"");
+        DLIB_CASSERT(mv(2) == 0,"");
+
+        mv(0) = 5;
+        mv(1) = 6;
+        mv(2) = 7;
+
+        v1 = mv;
+        DLIB_CASSERT(v1.x() == 5,"");
+        DLIB_CASSERT(v1.y() == 6,"");
+        DLIB_CASSERT(v1.z() == 7,"");
+
     }