Want a chance to show off your best detailing work and win some amazing prizes? Each year the IDA (International Detailing Association) runs a photo contest (IDA Annual Photo Contest) to highlight IDA members and the detailing work they are performing. Winners will not only be shouted out on the IDA website and social media channels, but they will also be featured on the IDA podcast Inside the IDA, in the newsletter The Detail Dialogue, and at the IDA Exhibit Booth at Mobile Tech Expo.

The contest is open to all IDA members and below you can find photos of the 2024 winners, along with all of the information on how to enter the 2025 contest.

Submission Deadline is August 15th 2025!

Category 1: IDA General Photo

IDA General Photo Contest Winners – 2024

Eligibility:

• Must be a current member of the IDA (If not, join today).
• Photos submitted for prior publication are not eligible.
• The photo must be an original work and the submitting member must have explicit permission to submit the photo to the IDA Photo Contest.
• Limited use of Photoshop or other editing software allowed for minor touch-up, color adjustment, and lighting adjustments.
• One submission per member, per category.
• Previous winners will not be eligible for submission for three years.

Judging Criteria

Composition:

• Photo must feature at least one IDA member.
• Photo must prominently display the IDA logo and member patches.
• Subject should consist of either a person detailing or a training/class/tradeshow activity. (Training/class/activity photos can consist of multiple people; not all people pictured need to be IDA members.)
• The person(s) in the photo must be displaying/performing proper detailing techniques and following proper safety protocols, i.e. wearing gloves, wearing goggles, cable management, etc.

Alignment:

• Photo is framed appropriately.

Lighting:

• Light improves and enhances the photo’s visibility, clarity, and texture.

Focus:

• Sharp focus on the person(s) detailing or the training/class/tradeshow activity portrayed.

Background:

• Keep the background simple and decluttered.

Restricted Elements:

• Photo cannot contain branded products.

Prize

• There will only be one winner.
• The winner will be featured in an episode of the IDA podcast, Inside the IDA. The winner will be contacted after selection to coordinate the interview.
• The winner will be featured in an article for the IDA newsletter, The Detail Dialogue. The article will take the form of a member spotlight, discussing the member’s detailing journey, the member’s business, the detailing job shown in the photo, and/or the event shown in the photo, etc. The winner will be contacted after selection for the write-up.
• The winning photo will be featured on IDA social media channels, including but not limited to Facebook and Instagram.
• The winning photo will be displayed at the IDA Exhibit Booth at Mobile Tech Expo 2026 in Orlando, FL.

How to Make a Submission

• Submit your photo file using the form below. Image files only, minimum of 300 DPI. Accepted formats: JPEG, PNG, TIFF
• All form fields are required. You must include the following information:
• Full Name of Submitting Member
• Member Type
• Organization
• Location (City, State, Country)
• Email Address
• Full Name and Credentials of Photographer (whether or not it is the same individual as the submitting member)
• Description of Photo
• Include full name(s) of everyone pictured, if known. Also include when (date) and where (event name, location) the photo was taken.
• If you are unable to submit your photo through the website, please email it to info@the-ida.com.

Judging and Voting

Each photo submission will be reviewed by the IDA Marketing & Communications Committee. All photos meeting the criteria outlined above will be voted on by IDA members. Each member is allowed one vote, per category. The photo with the most votes at the end of the voting period will be the winner. Previous winners will not be eligible for submission for three years.

Submission Fine Print

Once you submit your photo to the IDA, it will become the property of the IDA and can be used without further permission to publicly display, distribute, reproduce, and create derivative works of the entries, in whole or in part, in any media now existing or later developed, for any purpose, including, but not limited to, advertising and promotion of the organization and its website, social media, and print materials, including but not limited to IDA publications. Any photograph reproduced will include a photographer credit as feasible. The IDA will not be required to pay any additional consideration or seek any additional approval in connection with such uses; however, the IDA reserves the right to contact the submitting member as a courtesy prior to any such use. This applies to all photos submitted for the contest. These rules are subject to change.

Category 2: Before & After

IDA Before & After Contest Winners 2024

Eligibility:

• Must be a current member of the IDA (If not, join today).
• Photos submitted for prior publication are not eligible.
• The photo must be an original work and the submitting member must have explicit permission to submit the photo to the IDA Photo Contest.
• Limited use of Photoshop or other editing software allowed for minor touch-up, color adjustment, and lighting adjustments.
• One submission per member, per category.
• Previous winners will not be eligible for submission for three years.

Judging Criteria

Composition:

• Photo must feature a composition of two photos placed side by side, to create the before and after images.
• Photo must contain the words “Before” on the before image and “After” on the after photo.
• Subject should consist of a before and after image showing a detailing job, either of the interior or exterior of a vehicle, marine vessel, motorcycle, RV, or airplane.

Alignment:

• Photo is framed appropriately.

Lighting:

• Light improves and enhances the photo’s visibility, clarity, and texture.

Focus:

• Sharp focus on the person(s) detailing or the training/class/tradeshow activity portrayed.

Background:

• Keep the background simple and decluttered.

Restricted Elements:

• Photo cannot contain branded products.

Prize

• There will be four (4) winners.
• The winners will each be featured in an article for the IDA newsletter, The Detail Dialogue. The article will include a brief write-up/description of the detailing job shown in the photo, challenging aspects of the job, how they reached the final result shown in the “After” photo, etc. Winners will be contacted after selection for the write-up.
• The winners will each be featured in an episode of the IDA podcast, Inside the IDA. Winners will be contacted after selection to coordinate their interviews.
• The winning photos will be featured on IDA social media channels, including but not limited to Facebook and Instagram.
• The winning photos will be displayed at the IDA Exhibit Booth at Mobile Tech Expo 2026 in Orlando, FL.

How to Make a Submission

• Submit your photo file using the form below. Image files only, minimum of 300 DPI. Accepted formats: JPEG, PNG, TIFF
• All form fields are required. You must include the following information:
• Full Name of Submitting Member
• Member Type
• Organization
• Location (City, State, Country)
• Email Address
• Full Name and Credentials of Photographer (whether or not it is the same individual as the submitting member)
• Description of the subject matter depicted in the before and after photos
• If you are unable to submit your photo through the website, please email it to info@the-ida.com.

Judging and Voting

Each photo submission will be reviewed by the IDA Marketing & Communications Committee. All photos meeting the criteria outlined above will be voted on by IDA members. Each member is allowed one vote, per category. The photo with the most votes at the end of the voting period will be the winner. Previous winners will not be eligible for submission for three years.

Submission Fine Print

Once you submit your photo to the IDA, it will become the property of the IDA and can be used without further permission to publicly display, distribute, reproduce, and create derivative works of the entries, in whole or in part, in any media now existing or later developed, for any purpose, including, but not limited to, advertising and promotion of the organization and its website, social media, and print materials, including but not limited to IDA publications. Any photograph reproduced will include a photographer credit as feasible. The IDA will not be required to pay any additional consideration or seek any additional approval in connection with such uses; however, the IDA reserves the right to contact the submitting member as a courtesy prior to any such use. This applies to all photos submitted for the contest. These rules are subject to change.