Videos can be a powerful way to provide tips for your customers, show people how your utilities work, update everyone on a project, and more. You can post videos on your website or social media, include them in a presentation, or email a link to them.

These days, anyone can become a videographer, thanks to smartphones and the various free apps available.

Here are few tips to taking great videos.

• Take your video in landscape orientation to avoid having the two black vertical bars on both sides of your video. Just remember: Hold your phone horizontally.
• Frame your subject. Put him, her, or it slightly off-center for a more visually interesting scene. Most phone cameras have a gridline view option. The most popular framing technique is the “rule of thirds.” Line up your subject with one of the vertical “third” lines.
• Avoid backlighting. Your subjects will appear dark, and you won’t be able to pick up details. Move to a different position, if you can, to avoid backlighting.
• Take time to edit. Nowadays, it’s easier than ever to do a little editing to give your videos a “wow” factor. Many smartphones have basic video-editing included, and there are various apps that you can download for even more options. You don’t have to go Hollywood with the effects; think about adding simple titles and transitions.