Some kind of prayer is probably in order when beginning an investigation-This has the benefits of requesting higher protection and also grounding members of your team. Lastly it promotes unity and strengthens your team members care and concern for each other and compassion for the client and any potential unhappy spirits.
Ask the spirits of the dead for permission to take their photos.
Carry some method of communication-cell phones are great however phones should be turned off while on any investigation including social type optionals-they can interfere with evp and member concentration. If your membership is large and you can afford walkie talkies then invest in a couple-use them sparingly to avoid contamination of EVP etc
All information gathered must have no rational explanation.
No smoking tobacco products during an investigation.
No alcohol before, during or after an investigation-the same is true regarding drugs of any kind. Be clear headed.
Do not dare a spirit to make an appearance-be polite. Invite them to have their pictures taken but do not dare. Disregard the antics of foolish people such as those on Most Haunted who threaten and disrepect the spirits with swearing and taunts. This is not cool. This does not impress the serious paranormal investigator.
No Ouija boards or s�ances ever. The use of these items has been proven to be dangerous-If you are part of a team that is investigating a summons or s�ance/spirit circle then leave it to the experts-Your role is documentary
Always conduct your investigations in a professional manner. Do not argue or quarrel with other members or the client. Deal with disagreements that may occur offsite.
Keep happy thoughts circulating through that brain of yours! Fear, tension or anger do not belong anyplace during a ghost hunt. If a member feels fear and if the fear seems justified, then leave. You can always return another day.
Respect posted property, ask permission when it is not clear and do not trespass. If you do have permission and you are still asked to leave (by police, security or others) then do so in a polite and respectful manner. There is nothing to be gained by arguing or complaining. These matters can be addressed with client or owner the following day...again be respectful.
Do not take photographs during adverse weather conditions.****SEE ABOVE-Adverse weather conditions include: rain, mist, fog, snow, smoke, windy and or dusty conditions.
Never Assume that orbs or supercharged energy are truly evidence of paranormal activity. The connection has been established by a commonality of location, but is not scientifically proven.
Do not take photos from moving vehicles on dusty roads.
Never go faster than your slowest member-keep your team together in a responsible fashion. Haste makes wastes
Do not take photos while walking on dusty roads.
Hold your breath when it is cold outside and also be aware of others around you. Their exhaled breath can look just as ghostly as yours. Avoid talking around photographers when in cold situations. Strengthen their protocol by observing your own.
Remove all dust, spots, fingerprints from camera lens.
Do not wander off or stray from the group. Stay in assigned teams. Encourage your team members to maintain that integrity and to keep tabs on each other.
Do not wander into someone's picture-if someone is filming in your vicinity then stay still until both the main and the control picture are taken.
Remove or wear the camera strap so it does not hang-short straps should be wrapped around the wrist. Know where it is at all times. Watch out for camera lens caps.
Avoid shooting into the Sun for resulting lens flare.
Get into the habit of "Control pics"-this is when you take a picture of an area-wait until your camera resets and take another picture of the same area-This is used for comparison.
Avoid shooting with flash at reflective or shiny surfaces.
Keep fingers away from the lens of the camera. Keep linty clothes-mittens away from the camera lens
Keep long hair away from the lens of the camera.
Avoid shooting when foreign objects are floating around-this includes bugs and litter and anything that can fly in front of a camera lens.
No running or horse play in cemeteries or historical sites.
Show reverence and respect in cemeteries, battlefields. Do not run about-aside from the obvious disrespect that it conveys-many cemeteries have uneven ground-don't end up with a broken leg. etc.
Always use fresh audio tapes for EVP recordings.
If using infrared film-then place the camera on a tripod-moving a camera with infrared film inside can cause anomalies to appear on film.
Compare anomalous prints with negatives for confirmation.
Flash is only good for 9-12 feet from camera so focus on that range.
Positive Mental Attitude is very important for all investigations.
Sceptical minds will generate negative energy during an investigation.
You must remember to always factor in human psychology. Everyone comes with preconceived ideas. If a person believes in ghosts, they will be more willing to accept an incident as paranormal. In the reverse, if they do not, they will rule out obvious haunting activity. We have experienced both. Some folks want their homes to be haunted without any good reason (Remember Amityville Hoax). Remember human nature when investigating a haunting.
Do not tell your investigators the history and haunting prior to the investigation. This minimizes imagination. You can tell your designated Lead Investigators-or Team Leaders-they need to be aware of possible dangerous haunting situations.
Set up a Central Location where anyone experiencing anything may return to discuss feelings, thoughts or experience with your designated Lead Investigator. Until after the hunt all information should be shared in this fashion-If there is no quiet location private enough to share your data-simply allow your Lead Investigator to read your notes. This prevents tainting the other investigators. What good is evidence of a paranormal event if everyone has just heard someone telling their similar experience to everyone. The one allowable exception would be a sense of danger or some kind of ill feelings.
Always do your research on the history of the site, the hauntings reported, and the people involved. City websites are good resources provided you acknowledge their data. Neighbours (provided the client is comfortable involving others) Vital statistics may be useful although some records are not complete and almost useless beyond the mid 1800's in most cases. Some churches also have dated history-they can be unusually accommodating.
have fun out there...It is not likely that most ghost hunters will ever get that one picture that convinces the world so don't strive for that. Be grounded, relax and see ghost hunting as a chance to perhaps explore a mysterious and wonderful possibility.
Lastly, a closing prayer to solidify your connection to the white light and Creator, to solidify your connection to each member of your team and to strengthen personal boundaries and integrity.

Protocols