Au Pair Halloween Photo Contest
Official Rules & Guidelines
Contest Period: October 15, 2025 (12:00 AM EDT) - November 7, 2025 (11:59 PM EST)
Winners Announced: On or before November 14, 2025
Welcome!
We're excited to celebrate Halloween with our Au Pair USA community! This contest is a chance to share your creativity and possibly win a prize. Participation is completely optional and won't affect your au pair program status.
Prizes: We’ll be awarding a total of five (5) $50 gift cards to our favorite photos.
Quick Eligibility Check
Before you enter, make sure you can check every box:
- I'm currently participating in the InterExchange Au Pair USA program
- I'll remain in good standing with the program through December 31, 2025
- I have permission from everyone who appears in my photo
- If children under 18 are in my photo, I have written permission from their parent or legal guardian
- My photo is my original work and doesn't violate anyone's copyright
- My photo is appropriate for all audiences
- I understand InterExchange may use my photo for marketing purposes
- I'm not an InterExchange employee or immediate family member of an employee
⚠️ CRITICAL REQUIREMENT: Photo Permissions
YOU MUST HAVE PERMISSION FROM EVERYONE IN YOUR PHOTO
This is not optional. Before you submit your entry, you must obtain permission from every person who appears in your photo.
For Children Under 18 (Including Host Children):
✓ Required: Written permission from a parent or legal guardian for each child in the photo
✓ Use our Photo Permission Form or create your own written consent
✓ Keep a copy of the signed permission - we may ask to see it
✓ The host parent must sign permission for their own children
For Adults:
✓ Required: Permission from each adult in the photo (written permission preferred)
✓ Make sure they understand the photo may be used for marketing
What Happens If You Don't Get Permission:
- Your entry will be disqualified immediately
- If you win but we discover you didn't have proper permissions, you'll forfeit the prize
- Submitting photos without permission may affect your program standing
Download Photo Permission Form Here
Questions about permissions? Contact us at marketing@interexchange.org before submitting.
How to Enter
Step 1: Take or choose a photo showing your Halloween costume(s)
Step 2: Make sure you have all required permissions (see section above)
Step 3: Complete our online Contest Submission Form
Step 4: Upload your photo
Step 5: Submit by November 7, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST
Important:
- You can only enter once
- You cannot edit your photo after submitting
- Your entry is final when you hit "submit"
Photo Requirements
Your Photo Must:
✓ Show Halloween costumes (solo au pair OR group/pair costumes)
✓ Be your own original work
✓ Be high quality
✓ Be appropriate for all audiences
✓ Be submitted in digital format (JPEG or PNG preferred)
Your Photo Cannot:
✗ Include copyrighted material you don't have permission to use
✗ Contain inappropriate, offensive, or explicit content
✗ Show destruction of property or cruelty to animals
✗ Promote politics, gambling, alcohol, tobacco, or drugs
✗ Violate any laws or Program regulations
✗ Include people whose permission you don't have
Not sure if your photo qualifies? Email us at marketing@interexchange.org before submitting!
How Winners Are Chosen
InterExchange judges will review all eligible entries and select winners based on:
- Creativity and originality
- Quality of the photo
- How well the photo fits the Halloween theme
- Overall visual impact
All judging decisions are final. We'll announce winners by November 14, 2025.
If You Win
We'll Contact You:
If you're selected as a winner, we'll email you at the address you provided within 7 days of the announcement. Check your email!
What You Need to Do Within 7 Days:
- Respond to our email to claim your prize
- Provide proof of permissions if we request it
If You Don't Respond:
If you don't respond within 7 days or don't return the required forms, you'll forfeit your prize and we may select an alternate winner.
To Receive Your Prize:
- You must remain in good standing in the Au Pair USA program
- You must claim your prize by December 31, 2025
- Prizes cannot be transferred to someone else, exchanged for cash (unless we authorize it), or substituted
- We reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value
What Happens to Your Photo
Ownership:
When you submit your photo, it becomes InterExchange property and we won't return it to you. However, if you created original content in the photo, you still own the copyright to that content.
How We May Use Your Photo:
By entering the contest, you give InterExchange permission to:
- Post your photo on our website, social media, and marketing materials
- Use it in promotional content (emails, brochures, advertisements, etc.)
- Modify it (crop, resize, add our logo, adjust colors, etc.)
- Share it with our partner organizations and advertising agencies
- Use it anywhere in the world, in any format, now and in the future
- Feature your name, home country, and basic information alongside your photo
This permission is:
- Royalty-free (we don't pay you each time we use it)
- Perpetual (lasts forever)
- Worldwide
- Non-exclusive (you can still use your photo too)
- Irrevocable (you can't take back permission later)
If You're the Winner:
We may ask you to:
- Participate in additional promotion (like a blog interview or social media feature)
- Allow us to share more details about your au pair experience
- Appear in future marketing materials
You won't receive additional payment for this promotional activity.
Your Responsibility:
You confirm that:
- Everyone in your photo (or their parent/guardian) understands and agrees that InterExchange may use the photo for marketing
- You obtained all necessary permissions before submitting
- You can provide proof of permissions if requested
- You own the rights to your photo or have permission to submit it
Disqualification
You may be disqualified from the contest if you:
- Violate any of these rules
- Provide false or fraudulent information
- Submit a photo without proper permissions
- Use inappropriate methods to enter or influence the contest
- Act in an unsportsmanlike, disruptive, harassing, or threatening manner
- Are no longer in good standing with the Au Pair USA program
- Cannot fulfill contest requirements (like returning required forms)
If you're disqualified after being selected as a winner, you'll forfeit your prize.
Privacy & Your Personal Information
By entering this contest, you agree that InterExchange may:
- Collect and use your personal information according to our Privacy Policy
- Share your information with third parties for marketing purposes
- Use your information to contact you about this and future contests
If you'd like to opt out of marketing communications, you can do so at any time through your account settings or by contacting us.
Social Media Disclaimer
This contest is organized by InterExchange and is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Instagram, Facebook, or any other social media platform.
- Direct all questions about the contest to InterExchange, not to social media platforms
- You release Instagram, Facebook, and other social media platforms from all liability related to this contest
- Any information you provide is given to InterExchange, not to social media platforms
Legal Terms & Conditions
This Contest is Optional
Participating in this contest is completely voluntary and separate from your Au Pair USA program. Your program fees are for program services, not for contest entry. You may choose not to participate without any penalty to your program status.
Who Cannot Participate
The following people are not eligible to enter:
- InterExchange employees, agents, officers, and directors
- Employees of InterExchange's parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, and marketing agencies
- Immediate family members (parents, children, siblings, spouses) of the above
- People living in the same household as the above
Contest Changes or Cancellation
We reserve the right to:
- Modify, suspend, or cancel the contest at any time without notice
- Change contest rules if necessary
- Cancel the contest if fraud, technical failures, or other issues beyond our control affect the contest's integrity
If we cancel the contest, we're not required to award prizes.
Alternate Winners
If a winner cannot be contacted, is disqualified, or declines the prize, we may select an alternate winner or choose not to award that prize.
What We're Not Responsible For
InterExchange is not responsible for:
- Lost, incomplete, corrupted, or late entries
- Technical failures (computer, internet, network, hardware, software problems)
- Unauthorized access to contest information
- Human or electronic errors in contest administration
- Injuries or damages related to participating in the contest or using the prize
- Changes to U.S. Department of State regulations
- Acts of God, terrorism, civil disturbances, natural disasters, or other events beyond our control
Liability Release
By entering this contest, you agree to release InterExchange (and our employees, directors, officers, and agents) from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, or causes of action related to:
- Participating in the contest
- Accepting or using the prize
- Any use of your photo or entry materials
- Any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind
This includes direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, and punitive damages.
Indemnification
You agree to protect InterExchange from any claims or liability that arise from your participation in the contest or from the prize.
Your Warranties
By entering, you confirm and guarantee that:
- All information you provide is truthful and accurate
- You own the rights to your photo or have permission to submit it
- Your photo is original work and doesn't infringe anyone's copyright, trademark, or other rights
- You have all necessary permissions from people in your photo
- Your entry doesn't violate any laws or Program regulations
- You won't hold InterExchange responsible for any issues arising from your entry
Disputes & Legal Issues
- We Want to Talk First: Before taking any legal action, you must contact us directly to try to resolve the issue.
- Governing Law: These rules are governed by New York State law, without regard to conflict of law principles.
- Arbitration: Any disputes related to this contest will be resolved through arbitration in New York City, New York, rather than in court. You agree to arbitrate disputes individually and waive your right to participate in class action lawsuits.
- No Class Actions: You waive any right to commence or participate in class actions or other representative proceedings against InterExchange.
- Where to Send Legal Notices: InterExchange, Inc., 100 Wall Street, Suite 301, New York, NY 10005
Intellectual Property
- InterExchange Property: You may not use InterExchange logos, trademarks, or copyrighted materials without written permission from our Marketing Department.
- Your Rights: You assign to InterExchange all copyrights and intellectual property rights in content that you create for this contest and agree that we own any derivative works created from your entry.
No Warranties or Guarantees
InterExchange makes no promises, warranties, or guarantees about:
- The prize (quality, condition, fitness for a particular purpose)
- Our ability to deliver or enable use of the prize
- Any aspect of the contest
The prize is provided "as is."
General Legal Terms
- Relationship: Nothing in these rules creates a partnership, joint venture, employment, or agency relationship between you and InterExchange.
- Waiver: If we don't enforce a rule, that doesn't mean we waive our right to enforce it later. You waive any right to claim these rules are ambiguous.
- Interference: Attempting to damage our website or undermine the contest is illegal. We reserve the right to seek damages from anyone who does so.
📞 Questions?
Email: marketing@interexchange.org
Contest Administrator & Prize Provider
InterExchange, Inc.
100 Wall Street, Suite 301
New York, NY 10005
Your Agreement
By submitting your entry, you confirm that:
- You've read and understood all of these rules
- You agree to follow these rules
- You have all required permissions from people in your photo
- You give InterExchange permission to use your photo as described
- You release InterExchange from liability as described
- You understand your responsibilities regarding taxes
- All information you've provided is truthful and accurate
Good luck, and happy Halloween! 🎃
We can't wait to see your creative costumes!
These Official Rules were last updated on October 15, 2025. We reserve the right to modify these rules at any time. Check back before submitting your entry to ensure you have the most current version.
