What Does A Paranormal Documentarian Do, Anyway?

A paranormal documentarian investigates haunted locations, researches the history behind them, and presents what really happened — to real people, in real places — in a way that respects both the living and the dead.

That’s the short answer. Here’s the longer one.

What exactly is a paranormal documentarian?

It’s someone who treats a haunting as a story worth telling accurately. Not just spooky, but true. That means doing the historical research before you ever set foot in a location, documenting what actually happens during an investigation, and presenting the evidence honestly — including when you find nothing.

The format matters less than the standard. A paranormal documentary can be a blog post, a podcast episode, a YouTube video, or some combination of all three. What makes it documentary work is the commitment to research, evidence, and honest storytelling.

How is a paranormal documentarian different from a ghost hunter?

A ghost hunter investigates. A paranormal documentarian investigates and documents … but the documentation isn’t just a record of the night. It’s built on archival research, witness accounts, and historical context that explain why a location feels the way it does.

Most ghost hunting content starts with the gadgets (Don’t get me wrong: I love gadgets). I start with the archives. Before I set foot in a location, I’ve already been through newspaper records, death certificates, property histories, and eyewitness accounts. I want to know who lived there, who died there, and what they left unresolved.

A voice on a recorder is interesting. A voice on a recorder that matches the name of a child who died in that room in 1920 is a story worth telling.

What formats does a paranormal documentary take?

Any format that serves the story. I work across three:

Blog posts are my home base. You can combine archival research, field notes, audio clips, photo galleries, and video in one place. A well-built investigation post is closer to a web documentary than a typical blog entry.

Audio is my preferred format for sustained storytelling. A good story told well doesn’t need video to land. The Ghostly Activities Podcast is where I do my most focused documentary work.

Video is what most people think of when they hear “documentary.” I’ve produced 20 ghost hunting documentaries for YouTube. Video is powerful but it’s the most time-intensive format, and it isn’t always the right tool for the story.

Who should be the documentarian on a ghost hunting team?

The person most comfortable working behind the scenes, collecting the story, and putting it all together. Usually someone patient, comfortable with technology, and willing to spend long hours alone in post-production.

One thing worth saying clearly: a documentarian is more observer than participant. You’re not investigating unless the experiment requires it. Your job is to capture what happens, not to be what happens.

What makes a paranormal documentary credible?

A few things that separate credible work from content:

The research came first. You know the history before you arrive, so you know what you’re looking for and what would actually mean something if you found it.

Sources are credited. If a historian helped you, name them. If an archive confirmed a detail, cite it. If a claim can’t be confirmed, say so.

Null results (a.k.a. nothing happened) are reported honestly. Not every investigation produces evidence. Saying plainly that nothing happened is more credible than manufacturing drama from nothing.

Myths get called out. If the popular story about a location doesn’t hold up to research, the documentary says so. Legends are worth documenting as legends, not as facts.

Any advice for someone starting out?

A few things I’ve learned the hard way:

Audio matters more than you think. You can get away with imperfect video if the sound is good. Invest in a decent microphone before you invest in a better camera.

Learn your gear until it’s second nature. Things move fast on location. You don’t want to be fumbling with settings when something happens.

Always finish your projects. Most documentarians never publish their work. Building the discipline to finish is how you build a reputation as someone who gets the job done.

Don’t put up with difficult people. You’re there to capture and present the story. You’re not anyone’s personal assistant so they can become a social media star. Know your worth and act accordingly.

Be kind to yourself while you’re learning. You’ll make mistakes. A good sense of humor gets you through it faster than frustration will.

Want to see examples?

Here are two documentaries that represent the work well. The first is the most-viewed project in the Ghostly Activities catalog. The second is my personal favorite.

My most viewed documentary is Ghosts at the Lodge. This one really kickstarted my paranormal (film) documentaries. It opened so many doors to me and my ghost hunting buddy, Mike (a.k.a. Merle).

My favorite ghost hunting documentary was filmed in Merritt, BC, Canada, Our Haunted Heritage: Baillie House.

Please let me know if you have any questions in the comments below. I’ll get back to you right away. Thanks for reading!