You don't need a camcorder to create the kind of videos which can get millions of views on Youtube. Just use the free software mentioned in this article and follow the steps shown in this short minute video and you can create an exceptional video in just minutes.

In checking the twenty most viewed videos at YouTube this week, I noticed that at least two of those top videos had been created using a free instant video creation tool.

That free video creation tool allows you to quickly create a great looking video from still photographs, and add text, narration, and background music - and have something that will wow YouTube viewers.

The program even outputs video in a ready-to-upload to YouTube format (and yes, the video can also be uploaded to your own web site, included in emails, or even placed on CDs and DVDs).

I've written about this free program before - but it is such a useful tool it is worth writing about again.

To show you what this free tool can do, click the play button to watch the short video below.

The free video creation tool

As you saw in the video, the free video creation tool is Microsoft's Photo Story 3.

You can download it from Microsoft Photo Story.

Ideas for Photo Story Videos

1. Use Photo story to create a product video from product photos and screenshots
2. Use Photo story to create a real estate video from home photos
3. Use Photo story to create automobile for sale videos
4. Use Photo story to create a funny pet video for YouTube
5. Use Photo story to create a tribute video for a relative or family member
6. Use Photo story to create a travel video from vacation photos
7. Use Photo story to create a team video for youth soccer team (or any sports)
8. Use Photo story to create a video of photos from your office
9. Use Photo story to create a political video using politician photos and newspaper headlines
10. Use Photo story to create a tour of the historical district in your town
11. Use Photo story to create a history video from your box of old photos
12. Use Photo story to document a car show, boat show, or any event

The big advantage to using PhotoStory is it is easy-to-use, quickly creates great videos, is compatible with YouTube, and it is free,

And who knows - you might create the next top 20 video on YouTube using Photo story and photos you took.

Update: If you get an error message when you upload your PhotoStory .wmv file to YouTube, the procedure below is a solution.

First, be sure you to install the latest drivers for your video card.

Then, do the following:

1. Go to http://www.papajohn.org/Downloads/
   
   
2. Find 'YouTube-PS3-Standard-PapaJohn.prx' on the list of files, and right click to download it.
   
   
3. Save the file in c:\Program Files\Photo Story 3 for Windows\Profiles\1033 folder on your computer.
   
   
4. Open Photo Story 3, open your project, and go to the 'save your story' page.
   
   
5. Select the 'Settings' button, and from the profiles list, select the 'YouTube PapaJohn standard profile'.
   
   
6. Save the movie, and then try uploading again.
   

If you run into a problem at YouTube, it will be related to the Windows Video 9 drivers on your computer.