About ON1
Take Photography Further
For Photographers, By Photographers. This is ON1.
At ON1, our mission is simple: give photographers of all levels real creative control, powerful tools, and ownership of their workflow without forcing them into locked-in ecosystems.
Our Story
ON1 was founded in 2005 in Portland, Oregon, during a time when photographers were being pushed to adapt to tools that were never built for them. Early editing software catered to graphic designers first, with photographers expected to bend their workflow around it.
Our founder, a photographer himself, saw that gap and went to work.
What started as a small company building professional photo editing plug-ins quickly evolved into something bigger. As photographers demanded faster workflows, smarter organization, and deeper creative control, ON1 listened. That evolution led to the creation of ON1 Photo RAW, an all-in-one platform that combines browsing, editing, effects, masking, and export into a single, photographer-first experience.
Today, ON1 software is trusted by more than 250,000 photographers worldwide, from passionate hobbyists to working professionals and commercial studios. Over 1,000 user-requested features have been implemented directly into the product, shaping a platform that continues to grow alongside the community that uses it.
Let's take a walk down memory lane! Choose a year below to see significant events in the history of our company:
ON1, originally onOne Software, was founded in Portland, Oregon by Craig Keudell with just four employees. The company started by acquiring popular Photoshop plug-ins from Extensis and LizardTech — including Genuine Fractals, Mask Pro, and PhotoFrame — kicking off its mission to build easy, effective photo software for photographers.
Industry Recognition Begins
ON1's suite of Photoshop plug-ins starts gaining major attention. In 2008, the company wins the Studio Photography magazine Reader's Choice Award for Best Photoshop Plug-in. This marks the beginning of a streak of accolades that reflects ON1's growing reputation among working photographers.
More Awards & a Leap Into Mobile
In 2009, ON1 wins American Photo's Editor's Choice Award and launches DSLR Camera Remote for iPhone—one of the first apps to wirelessly control DSLR settings and Live View, putting ON1 ahead in mobile photo tech and generating buzz across the industry.
Continued Recognition
ON1's momentum continues with another big win: Digital Photo magazine's Editor's Choice Award. By this point, ON1 had firmly established itself as a go-to brand for powerful, photographer-friendly tools — earning praise for both innovation and ease of use.
Perfect Photo Suite Gets Serious
Perfect Photo Suite 6 launches, combining multiple plug-ins into one cohesive editing experience with layers, effects, and masking—making ON1 a serious standalone editing option.
B&W Editing Arrives
ON1 improves the suite with Perfect Photo Suite 7, enhancing performance and expanding features like Perfect B&W, offering powerful black and white photo processing.
Faster Browsing, Smarter Editing
Perfect Photo Suite 8 rolls out with improved browsing and quick preview options, giving photographers faster, easier access to their images. Its streamlined, non-destructive workflow marks a shift toward a more intuitive editing experience.
Feature Expansion for All Photographers
ON1 follows up with Suite 9, delivering advanced previews, better tool integration, and new features designed for photographers of all levels. It helps bridge the gap between casual users and professionals, strengthening ON1's place in the editing market.
A Unified Editing Experience
ON1 Photo 10 launches as a complete overhaul of the previous Suite, combining the best features in a modern, sleek interface. This year marks a decisive shift toward delivering a unified, standalone editing platform built for photographers.
The Photo RAW Project Begins
The ON1 Photo RAW Project debuts, inviting users to help shape the software from the ground up. Photo RAW launches with fast RAW processing, layers, and a modular UI—setting a new course for ON1 as a full editing system.
Expanding Tools, Growing Momentum
ON1 Photo RAW sees big improvements in 2017—better masking tools, new HDR and panorama features, and major performance gains. ON1 takes big steps toward competing with top-tier editors like Lightroom and gains new traction among professionals.
Listening to the Community
Photo RAW 2018 expands with new AI enhancements and dedicated portrait tools. ON1 also deepens its commitment to community-driven development, releasing frequent updates influenced directly by user feedback from the Photo RAW Project.
Ecosystem Foundations
ON1 introduces ON1 360 and Photo Mobile, laying the groundwork for an integrated editing ecosystem. With syncing between devices and new mobile tools, ON1 starts redefining how photographers manage and edit across platforms.
Cross-Platform Sync and AI Retouching
ON1 360° and new mobile apps officially launch, allowing seamless syncing and editing across desktop and mobile. Portrait AI debuts, providing automatic retouching with professional-level results in seconds.
Raising the Bar with AI
NoNoise AI changes the game in 2021, delivering AI-powered noise reduction that outperforms traditional methods. ON1 also expands plugin compatibility to Capture One, bringing its tools to even more photographers and studios.
Powerful AI Tools Made Simple
Sky Swap AI and Tack Sharp AI join the growing AI suite in ON1 Photo RAW. These tools simplify complex edits without compromising control, further solidifying ON1's commitment to fast, flexible, and user-friendly photography software.
Super Select AI and ON1 Photo RAW MAX
ON1 Photo RAW 2023 introduces Super Select AI, a one-click masking tool that speeds up selective editing. ON1 Photo RAW bundles make it easier for photographers to get all the tools they need with one convenient purchase option.
Smoother, Smarter, Sharper
ON1 continues innovating with Auto Crop AI and Generative Erase, giving users quick, intelligent ways to clean up and frame images. Photo RAW 2024 also sees major speed gains and UI enhancements, improving the user experience across the board.
20 Years Strong
Celebrating 20 years, ON1 releases Photo RAW 2025 with a fresh focus on speed, mobility, and user-shaped AI tools. This milestone release honors ON1's past and looks ahead to a smarter, more connected editing future.
Meet the Experts Behind ON1
The fastest way to understand who makes ON1 Photo RAW is to meet the people building it. ON1 is led by photographers, software veterans, and educators who live inside the tools they help create.
Craig Keudell
Founder & CEO
Craig Keudell is the ON1 photo founder and the original architect of the company's long-term vision. With decades of experience in photography software, Craig founded ON1 to solve real workflow problems he saw photographers facing every day. Under his leadership, ON1 grew from a plug-in developer into a full-scale photo editing platform built around ownership, flexibility, and creative freedom. Craig regularly shares candid reflections on ON1's direction, milestones, and philosophy, reinforcing a rare level of transparency in the software world.
Patrick Smith
Senior Vice President & General Manager
Patrick Smith oversees product development, sales, marketing, and brand strategy at ON1. He plays a key role in shaping ON1's overall vision for serving photographers, balancing innovation with practical, real-world workflows. Patrick also authors ON1's official announcements and updates, focusing on clear, authentic communication that helps users understand not just what's new, but why it matters.
Dan Harlacher
Vice President of Product
Dan Harlacher leads product strategy for ON1 Photo RAW, bringing decades of hands-on experience in photography and image-editing software. He's deeply involved in feature design, performance optimization, and AI-driven innovation, translating complex technology into tools photographers want to use. Dan regularly communicates directly with users about upcoming features, workflow improvements, and the thinking behind major releases.
View Dan's Full BioDylan Kotecki
ON1 Educator
Dylan Kotecki is a professional photographer and one of the most recognizable educators for ON1. Specializing in landscape, portrait, and real estate photography, he brings a wide range of real-world experience to his teaching. Dylan hosts webinars, creates in-depth training, and teaches real-world workflows to help photographers get better results faster.
View Dylan's Full Bio
What We Believe
Everything we build at ON1 comes back to a few core principles.
We believe photographers should own their creative workflow, not rent it indefinitely. That's why ON1 continues to support perpetual license options alongside subscriptions.
We believe editing, organization, and output should live together in one cohesive environment. Photography is already complex enough without juggling fragmented tools.
We believe software should evolve with the people who use it. Community feedback directly shapes our roadmap, feature set, and priorities.
Most of all, we believe photography is personal. The tools you use should respect that.
Education is Part of the Product
Great software means nothing if photographers cannot use it confidently. Education has always been baked into ON1, not bolted on later.
Through tutorials, live webinars, conferences, and partnerships with industry-leading educators, ON1 supports photographers at every stage of their journey. Collaborations with platforms like KelbyOne bring world-class instruction into the ON1 Learning Center, while ON1-hosted events connect photographers directly with the people building the tools they rely on.
Learning is not an upsell. It's part of the promise.
Join the ON1 Community
ON1 is more than software. It's a global community of photographers who care deeply about craft, creativity, and control.
Follow along through the ON1 blog, connect in the forums, join live training events, or subscribe to our newsletter for updates, tips, and behind-the-scenes insight into what we're building next.
When photographers speak, ON1 listens. We always have.
Let's Stay Connected
Have questions, feedback, or ideas you want to share? We're easy to reach and always open to conversation.
ON1
PO Box 7626
Salem, OR 97303
Thanks for being part of the ON1 story.
Submit a RequestFrequently Asked Questions About ON1
What is ON1 and what do they make?
ON1 is a photography software company that builds powerful editing and workflow tools designed specifically for photographers. The company is best known for ON1 Photo RAW, an all-in-one application that combines photo organization, RAW processing, advanced masking, effects, and export tools in a single platform.
How long has ON1 been around?
Since its founding in 2005, the ON1 photo company has evolved from a plug-in developer into a full-featured photo editing platform trusted by more than 250,000 photographers worldwide.
Who founded ON1?
The ON1 photo founder is Craig Keudell, who started the company in 2005 in Portland, Oregon. His goal was to create photography software that worked the way photographers think, rather than forcing them into tools built for other creative disciplines.
