How Alternative Processes was born
Alternative Processes was born in 2016 out of a student's bedroom. I’m Chiara, and I suddenly found myself in my hometown, far from big cities, darkroom facilities, inspiring mentors, workshops and exhibitions. I decided to start writing about alternative photography — pages filled with years of notes, discoveries, and failures from my own experiments with historical and sustainable photographic techniques.
What started as a few shared resources quickly evolved into a global platform and community, dedicated to preserving, experimenting, exploring, and teaching alternative photographic processes — making sure these fascinating techniques are accessible to everyone, everywhere.
What is Alternative Processes
AlAlternative Processes is a learning platform and creative community focused on historical, experimental, and sustainable photographic processes. We also research these processes deeply, fostering innovation and understanding within the field. We are a place to discover techniques, connect with artists, and get inspired — whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned practitioner.
Where we are
Our organisation exists primarily online, a decision driven by a passionate commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. Historically, these processes have often been confined to specific locations, usually close to major cities, making it difficult for many to engage with them. Living in a rural area myself, I experienced firsthand how hard it can be to connect with the industry. By grounding ourselves in the digital realm, we’ve aimed to bridge these gaps and ensure that no matter where you reside, you can access resources, dedicated opportunities, and a like-minded community. At the same time, I now travel extensively, teaching these processes on location at various schools and cultural institutions around the world, bringing our ethos into physical spaces too. I also organise in-person workshops in our tuscan studio.
Our Resources
We have a complete online course about alternative processes, online live classes and downloadable guides, but we also occasionally run in-person workshops.
Our Values
At the heart of Alternative Processes is a simple belief: making alternative photographic processes accessible. We do so by talking about these techniques and sharing our research freely in our blog and to our mailing list, ensuring that knowledge is shared openly — no matter your background, location, education, or resources.
How you can support us
Everything you see on this platform — from free cheat-sheets to in-depth blog articles — is created with love and care by the founder, along with a growing community of passionate contributors.
The best way to support us is by enrolling in our Alternative Processes Academy. Inside the academy, you’ll dive into many processes, with a special focus on printing with light on different surfaces and materials.
Every enrolment directly supports the creation of new educational content, interviews, research, and curated exhibitions — and helps us keep this platform alive and growing. You can also support us by subscribing to our free newsletter, filled with inspiration, process tips, and creative ideas.
Press & Features
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Photography with Flowers and Coffee: What is Sustainable Photography All About? (Article by Alba Cid)
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An Overview of Alternative Photography Processes (Published by Shoot It With Film)
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Chlorophyll Printing with Alternative Processes (Published by REVOLOG)