Tales from the Trenches: The Most Unconventional Document Submissions

In the world of freelancing and client work, we come across a myriad of surprises—many of which can be quite amusing, albeit frustrating at times. One of the more bizarre experiences I’ve had involved receiving a document that was anything but conventional.

Let me share my story: a client attempted to submit an invoice, but instead of sending me the actual PDF, they snapped a photo of it displayed on their iPad using a Samsung phone. Yes, you read that right! The image was then emailed to me as if that would suffice. Unfortunately, this meant we had to manually process the invoice, which was neither efficient nor ideal.

Now, I turn the spotlight to you, dear readers. What are the strangest or most convoluted ways you’ve received documents from clients? Have you encountered handwritten notes that were nearly illegible? Perhaps you’ve received scans that were upside down, or files humorously named “Image(345).jpg”?

I’m compiling these anecdotes while working on a project aimed at alleviating some of the chaos we face in document submissions. It’s reassuring to know that I’m not alone in navigating this quagmire of miscommunication and unconventional submissions. I invite you to share your experiences—let’s commiserate and perhaps find some laughs amidst the madness!