If you plan on doing any DIY ghost hunting this Halloween season, take some time to transform your normal production kit into a paranormal production kit. Nothing’s worse than making contact with the other side only to find out your f-stop isn’t up to snuff. Poor planning accounts for decades of scratchy audiotapes and shaky, unusable footage; catnip for all the skeptics out there. In today’s world of affordable 4K cameras and quality lenses, there’s no reason to perpetuate the hacked-to-death, excuse us, hackneyed Blair Witch aesthetic.
Of course, ghost hunting poses a number of peculiar production challenges, so we’ve tried to take out as much of the guesswork for you as possible with this essential list for what to bring on your next ghosting hunting expedition. So grab your skeleton crew and remember to be safe and have fun!
4K Ultra HD Night Vision Camera
For catching those elusive spectral auras or Lovecraft slime creatures, you’ll want a camera that works well in low-lighting situations, but also has full-spectrum capabilities. High-speed FPS is also recommended for detecting visual anomalies.
For when your crew mindlessly splits off around the house and stumbles across their deepest darkest nightmares.
Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Reader
The original “Ghostbuster”, this is an inexpensive and user-friendly instrument that detects electro-magnetic field changes. It dates back to the séance craze in the early nineteenth century. Anything can set it off, including your iPhone or Apple watch, so make sure to keep those items out of range. Savvier ghosts have been known to wear deflective rubber shrouds.
Ghosts are nimble and so you’ll need a tripod mount that can keep up. You’ll want something lightweight that snaps off quickly so you can go full Scooby-Doo if you need to.
Because falling and tripping in a scary, old house is so cliché.
Gimbals
You’ll need a good stabilizer for when things go off-kilter. Rent one that works for your camera of choice.
Most ghosts wait until the witching hour to move about the cabin, so it’s important to bring a strong brew on set to keep your crew alert. Get a coffee traveler from Starbucks and make it pumpkin spice for a more festive evening. Keeping your crew well-caffeinated will also add to all the jump scares.
Long-Lasting Camera Batteries
You’ll be running your cameras nonstop in hopes of seeing the unseen. Make sure your batteries are up to the task. Note: there have been reported cases of battery packs disappearing and ending up in ancient boom boxes.
A good way to communicate with your hosts, learn their backstories and maybe even help them achieve eternal peace. Also, a good way to keep crew members from dying of boredom.
Sensitive Mics
You’ll want mics that can capture every snap, crackle, and pop (not to mention all the blood-curdling screams).
Great for staying in touch with your crew even in an Upside Down World situation.
The rule is, if a person appears on camera, even in a vaporous form, they need to sign off on the use of their image. At minimum, they should provide some form of paranormal consent. Three heavy knocks will do. Avoid contact with the spirits of lawyers. They will want to argue the terms.
Be sure to scout a location shrouded in years of secrecy and rumors, and don’t forget to get your Location Release signed by the strangely ubiquitous maître d', or whoever claims ownership of the property.
When things get scary, sometimes you just want to turn on the lights. Chances are your hands will already be full of equipment, so a good keychain flashlight is worth its weight in gold, especially if the ghost forgot to pay its electric bill.
Other useful (but not necessary) items:
Occult Advisor or Spiritual Medium: good for breaking the ice with more introverted spirits.
Holy Water: the sure way to identify a malevolent spirit, may leave a bad rash.
Sage: great for disguising bad odors and cleansing your crew of any hexes before wrap.
And there you have it! Our must-bring items for your next ghost hunting expedition.
