Do ITVideoPros automatically get posted to the site?
What are your criteria when reviewing a ITVideopros?
What makes a good ITVideopros Video?
Can I submit a ITVideopros that is similar to one already on the site?
My digital still camera has a movie mode. Can I record a ITVideopros with it?
Im trying to access the site using Internet Explorer for Mac, but it doesnt seem to display correctly. What can I do?
How can I become a featured contributor?
What file format do you prefer?
How do I make an iPod compliant .MP4 file?
Is there a file size limitation of time limit on the ITVideoPros?
I have a great idea for a ITVideopros, but I dont have any camera equipment, can you help me out?
Im unable to download videos. What could be going wrong?
Im unable to submit videos. Whats up with that?

Have a question thats not posted here? Email it to us at: info@ITVideopros.com

Q: Do ITVideoPros automatically get posted to the site?

A: No, every ITVideopros is reviewed before its posted. We try to post new ITVideoPros within 24 hours of being submitted. If its taking longer then we are likely experiencing high ITVideopros volume, please be patient and well make it live as soon as we can.

Q: What are your criteria when reviewing a ITVideopros?

A: Most importantly we want ITVideoPros that teach our users something new. We prefer them to follow a repeatable series of steps to accomplish a specific task. We dont want the ITVideoPros to simply show off what you can do. Put yourself in the shoes of someone whos learning it for the first time and walk them through it.

We will not post ITVideoPros that are in violation of our Terms of Use.

Q: What makes a good ITVideopros?

A: There are six keys to making a good ITVideopros:

1.       LIGHTING
Cant emphasize this enough. Youve all seen how dark and grainy a ITVideopros can look in low light. The #1 thing you can do to improve any ITVideopros is to properly light the scene. What this means is getting some extra light on your subject. Often a desk lamp or reading lamp is sufficient. It is very hard to have too much light, especially indoors. Consider it just like taking a photo, cast light on to your subject from the same direction youre shooting. Be mindful of shadows and hotspots. Florescent lights are the best at giving you a consistent diffused light, and of course your best source of light in general is the sun. When outdoors avoid shooting in partial sun/shadow. This tends to create some extemely harsh contrast making half the ITVideopros look "blown out" (too much light, oversaturated) and the other half too dark. Believe it or not, overcast days are best for a consistent diffuse light.

2.       HAVE A PLAN!
Most of us are not good at improvising. Theres always stuff we forget to say and we add a bunch of uhhhs and ummms. By just spending 5-10 minutes planning your shots and what your actors are going to say you will save HOURS of time editing later. Trust me on this. Dont learn the hard way. Wading through footage for the best takes is always the most time consuming part of the production process. Write a script, do storyboards, have your little sister work the clapboard. A little organization goes A LONG way toward saving you time and frustration.

3.       BE DETAILED
Keep in mind ITVideoPros are often viewed on smaller screens so its really important to use that zoom and get the camera in tight on your hands or wherever the detail may be. Have fun and show yourself if you want, but remember your audience wants to learn how to do it too and they need to be able to see what youre doing.

4.       THE TRIPOD IS YOUR FRIEND
Next to lighting this is the next most important thing that goes toward making your production look clean and professional. Jittery camerawork can really turn the viewer off. You may have some great content, but no one will want to see it if it makes them sick. Tripods are cheap and you can usually use the same one for your still camera. Trust me, its a worthwhile investment.

5.       DONT FORGET THE AUDIO!
You dont need a boom mic operator and an entire sound team to get decent audio. Things like shotgun mics and wireless lavalier mics are always nice, but not always practical. If youre using your cameras built in mics make sure you do a quick sound test to be sure its picking up your voice okay. If its not, move the camera closer and re-work the shot. Be aware of ambient noise. Traffic and lawnmowers in the background can be quite annoying to the viewer and turn them off to your masterpiece. You may want to consider doing voiceovers after the fact. It can take a little extra time, but you will always get much better audio in a controlled editable environment. Often a basic computer microphone will be more than sufficient. See Thanatos ITVideopross on flipping for good examples of voiceovers during the detailed walkthrough parts.

6.       YOU DON"T NEED A FANCY CAMERA, EDITING PROGRAMS, OR DIRECTING SKILLS!
You can do pretty much everything you need with a standard consumer DV Camera and the free tools that come with your computer. Heck even some digital still cameras can now take decent footage in movie mode. For editing: iMovie is quite sufficient for Mac users. And Windows Movie Maker that comes with Windows XP will get the job done fine also. Even if you do eventually get a better editing program these are great places to start learning non-linear editing. Were currently working on ITVideoPros for each of these editing programs and hope to have them done soon to assist those who are just starting to learning about editing.

If you are looking for a great screen capture software try using  HyperCam 2.14.02 -its free and really easy to use:

http://download.cnet.com/HyperCam/3000-13633_4-10004511.html

Please note we do not endorse this product but found it to be very helpful for most of our videos. Best of luck use at your own will.

Q: Can I submit a ITVideopros that is similar to one already on the site?

A: Yes, we encourage it. Everyone has a different approach to the same problem. The ratings system is in place to allow you to vote for which ITVideopros you consider best and the "Preferred" answer will show up first in searches.

Q: My digital still camera has a movie mode. Can I record a ITVideopros with it?

A: Most new digital point-and-shoot cameras have video capabilities that are more than adequate for filming ITVideoPros. If you plan on editing the video before submitting to ITVideopros, (recommended) it is wise to test the video with your editing suite for compatibility issues. Some editing programs may not properly recognize the file format your digital camera records. Also, keep in mind that many digital cameras have limitations on the length of video you may record. Check your user manual for more details on this.

Q: Im trying to access the site using Internet Explorer for Mac, but it doesnt seem to display correctly. What can I do?

A: ITVideopros is best viewed with Mozilla Firefox at a resolution of at least 1024x768. For information on how to adjust your computers resolution see your operating systems help file.

Q: How can I become a featured contributor?

A: We look for users who show passion for their ITVideoPros and have submitted multiple ITVideoPros in their area of interest. If youre excited about ITVideopros we want you to be recognized for your talents. To become a contributor submit a few ITVideoPros of your own and you may request to have a bio and image posted.

Q: What file format do you prefer?

A: Compressing your DV or AVI files to iPod compliant .mp4 will reduce the file size, save us time, and get your ITVideopros posted faster. However, you may submit your ITVideopros in any major video format as long as it is less than 100MB in its entirety.

Q: How do I make an iPod compliant .MP4 file?

A: There are a number of great tools to do this that you can find by searching for "iPod mp4 maker" on your favorite search engine. Some common ones are: Quicktime Pro, Apollo iPod Video Converter, CucuSoft iPod Video Converter, etc.

Q: Is there a file size limitation of time limit on the ITVideoPros?

A: We currently have a maximum file size of 200MB on all submissions. When you submit a ITVideopros, keep your own attention span in mind. Ideally, ITVideoPros are short and focused on the subject with times less than 5-10 minutes. A 5 minute ITVideopros compressed to .mp4 @ 500Kb/s bitrate will be around 10MB.

Q: I have a great idea for a ITVideopros, but I dont have any camera equipment, can you help me out?

A: Although we have filmed many ITVideoPros ourselves, we encourage users to use their own resources. Weve had fun getting together with friends to film ITVideoPros. Have a ITVideopros day. Get some friends together (your friends with cameras) and film away.

Q: Im unable to download videos. What could be going wrong?

A: Well, this could honestly be any number of things. If you are experiencing downloading problems please let us know at support@ITVideopros.com so we can fix it for you, and anyone else that may be having the same problem.

Q: Im unable to submit videos. Whats up with that?

A: Well, this could honestly be any number of things. If you are experiencing submission problems please let us know at support@ITVideopros.com so we can fix it for you, and anyone else that may be having the same problem.