Tips for Investigating.
~Before you start ghost hunting know what you are dealing with. You should be able to get some idea just by asking the client what is going on. Never go after something you don't understand.
If you are interested in becoming an investigator in the paranormal do your research and do it again. You cannot get enough information when stepping into this field. Nothing is more dangerous than walking into an investigation clueless. You put yourself in danger as well as those around you.
~Try and get a good understanding of what is going on before you actually declare a place haunted. Feeling a cold spot is not enough to call a place haunted or even feeling paranoid.
~NEVER investigate alone. So many things can happen. First of all it's for safety. If you fall you want someone there to be able to get help. Second. it gives you more verification if 2 people see or hear something compared to just 1.
~Think before you act. Think of the consequences before you do anything. Example.: Don't try to provoke something unless you expect something to happen. Countless people provoke then get touched and run out screaming. Truth is they asked for it. Literally.
~ Research the place thoroughly. Learn the history of the place. Use all your resources. First ask the owners the history that they know. Then go to a library and look at some old newspapers and such. Ask around the neighborhood. Find out as much as you can about the place.
Some Basics
You don't need fancy equipment to get started as a ghost hunter. Some basics that you can use are cameras and audio recorders. You can use both 35 mm and digital cameras, both are used by seasoned investigators. Cassette recorders and digital audio recorders are a very useful tool for capturing evps during investigations. Other great tools include paper and pen for logging weather-related information such as temperature, humidity and moon phases, flashlights, extra batteries, and a carrying-case or fanny pack for putting your equipment in. You have to start somewhere, so don't worry about that fancy equipment just yet! The basic equipment can be just as effective when doing your research.
Research
It's always good to research the land, building or home that you are investigating. Spirits can be attached to the land just as much as they can be attached to homes or objects. Start out by doing some online searches on the land or building in Google or another search engine and see what you can dig up. If you need to do more extensive research, you can try genealogy websites like Rootsweb or Ancestry-they can be a wealth of valuable information.
Ghost hunting, like anything else, is something you learn by doing. You will make mistakes and learn as you go along. Each paranormal investigation that you take part in will help you become a better researcher, which will in turn help out the people you investigate for.
