Halide Camera App Co-Founder Joins Apple Design Team

When one of the iPhone's most passionate camera experts gets hired by Apple itself, you know something special is happening.

Sebastiaan de With, co-founder of the photography app company Lux, announced he's joining Apple's design team this week. De With helped create Halide, one of the most respected pro camera apps for iPhone, along with Kino for video capture and the Orion browser.

"So excited to work with the very best team in the world on my favorite products," de With shared in his announcement. His deep knowledge of iPhone cameras has made him a trusted voice in the photography community, with his detailed camera reviews becoming must-reads for iPhone enthusiasts.

For fans worried about the future of Halide and Lux's other apps, there's great news. Ben Sandofsky, Lux's other co-founder, says he's never been more optimistic about the company's future.

The timing couldn't be better. Lux just launched the public preview of Halide Mark III, and the response has exceeded all expectations. The company is now partnering with The Iconfactory's design team and renowned colorist Cullen Kelly to bring new features to users.

Sandofsky has been leading Halide for a decade, handling product development, business operations, and coding almost everything himself. He's ready to continue that work with fresh collaborators joining the team.

Why This Inspires

This story shows what happens when talent and passion meet opportunity. De With spent years perfecting tools that help everyday people take stunning photos with their iPhones. Now he'll influence the cameras themselves, potentially bringing that same user-focused thinking to millions of devices.

Even better, his departure isn't leaving a gap. Instead, it's opening doors for new creative partnerships that will keep Halide growing. The collaboration with The Iconfactory and Cullen Kelly means users get the best of both worlds: de With's expertise flowing into Apple's hardware, and fresh creative energy powering the apps photographers already love.

It's a rare moment where everyone wins: Apple gets a brilliant designer, Halide gets exciting new collaborators, and iPhone users everywhere benefit from all of it.