An image forming apparatus includes an image forming structure including an image carrier that carries an image and an optical writing device that writes a latent image onto the image carrier in an integral arrangement; plural development devices that develop a latent image carried by the image carrier; a shifting mechanism unit that shifts the image forming structure relative to the development devices; and a shift controller that controls the shifting mechanism unit so that the image carrier is shifted to a development position in contact with one of the development devices in a predetermined order.