These guidelines should make sense to people who are in this field to properly prove or disprove unexplained phenomena or legitimately help those in harm’s way.

• Exhaust all possible natural causes for supernatural claims first

• Don't allow smoking within the area being investigated or in adjoining areas before or during an investigation

• Don't capture photographic or video evidence outside during adverse weather conditions or cold weather

• Don't  use straps on or near any devices that capture photos or videos of any kind

• Don't allow whispering when sensitive audio recording devices are in use

• Don't permit the use of cell phones or other unnecessary electronic devices during or near investigations

• Don't wear any type of cologne, perfume or other fragrances during investigations

• Remember to tag any noises that you make and identify the noise and who made it.
   
• When you take photos at night, make sure you have you camera set for night filming. If your camera has this setting, please use it otherwise your photos might come out to dark or fuzzy.
   
• Always take photos of something and not just an open area. Having a background image such allows for reference point and an all important place for the flash to bounce off of.
   
• Take lots of pictures!  Takes photos of anything & everything with a good background image. The odds are good that you will capture an anomaly if you take at least 50 pictures on your hunt.
   
• When taking your photos, make sure to avoid shinny surfaces. The shine from a pane of glass etc. can cause anomalies that can appear to look like ghost mist, fog & orb shapes. Oh, and never try taking photos through a glass window. It's easy to create shapes that aren't really there (matrix). Not worth wondering if it was created from the glass or not. Old glass (and mirrors) is the worst.
   
• Make sure your camera lens is clean at all times. Again, this can cause anomaly type images to appear. If the lens has a smudge it can easily show up on several pictures and can look like an anomaly.
   
• Remove your camera strap and lens cover. These can appear as a vortex or other ghostly images if left to dangle free from the camera. If your thumb or finger is in the way of the lens it can cause this same effect.
  
  Make sure long hair is tied back. Hair can also appear as a ghostly anomaly.
• Avoid taking photos when conditions are windy, foggy, rainy, and dusty and where it's snowing or when moisture is in the air. All of these conditions can cause images to appear that look exactly like orbs and ghostly anomalies. 
   
• "Lens Flair" produces strange effects in your photos. To avoid this do not take photos in the direction of the sun.
   
• Ghostly phenomena can and will also appear above your head at times so be sure and snap some random shots up above at times. Look to take pictures in corners of rooms etc.
   
• Try following your instincts when taking ghost photos. If you have a particular inclination to snap a photo in a particular direction or at a particular object, do it. You need to learn to trust your feelings and your instincts.
   
• The theory is that October thru February is the best time for spirits as the electrostatic energy levels are highest with the cold weather.
   
• Remember your flash limitations. A flash can only be useful for up to a certain distance. Normally within 15 feet.
   
• Watch for dust or dirt being stirred up in the area you are photographing.  They can give false positive pictures. 
   
• Don't bother with your cameras viewfinder.  Hold the camera out in front of you and aim at the area you want to take a picture of.  Many newer digital cameras do not even come with view finders.   This also helps in cold weather by keeping your camera away from your breath.
   
• Watch for reflective surfaces and make notes of them.   The flash reflected off shiny surfaces such as windows, polished tombstones, etc. can look light an orb or other anomaly.  Make note of street lights and any other light source that may appear on the film. 
   
• Let fellow investigators know when you are taking a photo so that you don't get double flashes.
   
• In cold weather be conscious of your breath so you don't photograph that, it'll look like ectoplasm mist.  If you think you may have, log that picture number and discard it when you develop the pictures. 
   
• Sometimes you will see an orb, mist or sparkles in your flash or others flashes, take more pictures right there, you may be near a spirit. 
   
• Make sure that you have plenty of batteries available in case of battery drainage.
   
• If you chose to leave your recorder running in a certain area when you leave, be sure anyone who enters the area announces their presence when entering or leaving a room. This way you can't mistake it for something paranormal when it may not be.
   
• Always try to use a digital voice recorder with an internal and external microphone. This allows you to pick up more of the sounds around you.
   
• If available set up a camcorder in order to capture anything besides voices. Sometimes you catch voices on the camera as well as the recorder.
   
• Make sure all the lights are off in the location of the investigation; this makes it easier to see any visible paranormal evidence.