If you’ve touched the edges of alternative photography and are ready to go further.

If you want to move past trial-and-error into focused, guided learning, and discover a more tactile, material connection with the medium

Here’s where you can deepen your practice


With over a decade of expertise distilled into one program, the Alternative Processes Academy will guide you through photographic techniques and materials—equipping you to create prints that are truly your own, each leaving its mark in unrepeatable ways.

WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY

The best creative decision I made last year


"when I discovered and followed the wonderful Alternative Processes @alternativeprocesses account on Instagram, my eyes were opened to a whole new array of creative possibilities. My decision to join Chiara’s Alternative Processes Academy at the start of 2023 was arguably the best creative decision I made last year."

━ Jane Constable




With the Academy’s help, I was awarded a Distinction


"I used The Academy to inform my practice-led MA Photography, and with Chiara’s help, was awarded a Distinction. It has the perfect combination of technical, step-by-step process together with inspiration around what can be achieved with alternative processes. Sustainable photography does not have to be second-best. The Academy saved me hours and hours of scrolling through YouTube trying to find the exact techniques I needed: the videos are concise and to the point, well organised and logical. "

━ Emma Davies



This course has been crucial


"Thanks to this course, my work became more technical and structured. Previously, I was experimenting but lacked a clear guideline. Thanks to APA, I have learned how to use mordants and which ones to choose, I am continuously learning and experimenting. Now, I am working on a project that merges the cyanotype technique with watergrams, and this course has been crucial."

━ Lisa Roselli Zani



Enrol today and begin exploring 43 in-depth video lessons
(NEW: You can now enrol and choose to pay later or in monthly installments through Klarna)


Step into the processes behind these images

Wherever you are in the world, the Alternative Processes Academy brings the learning to you. You’ll be part of an international community of artists and photographers, connected by shared curiosity and practice.

Course Curriculum


  Intro to Darkroom Printing
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  Cameraless Photography
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  Caffenol
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  Bioplastic
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  Liquid Emulsion
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  Digital Negatives
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  Anthotype
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  Cyanotype
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  Chlorophyll
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  Polaroid Emulsion Lifts
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  Guest Lectures
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  BONUS Lessons
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The Alternative Processes Academy welcomes both beginners and intermediate practitioners, offering a complete introduction to darkroom printing alongside the fundamentals of every process.

But it doesn’t stop there—it takes you beyond the basics, guiding you to print on challenging surfaces and objects, and combine techniques in ways that expand what photography can be.


The Academy is a fully online, self-paced program built around on demand lessons you can revisit anytime. It’s designed with a strong emphasis on practical, hands-on work.

It’s not intended as a live-class format (aside from community calls and guest lectures), nor is it focused on history.


DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES


Modules and lessons come with printable guides, cheat-sheets, lists, slides and checklists to help you in your printing journey




ALL THE SUPPORT YOU NEED


Students and alumni will have regular sessions with Chiara and the AP team to discuss ideas, tackle challenges, and receive feedback. A private Discord server will be accessible for daily support and additional prompts.



Gum bichromate process
Upcoming Guest Lecture

Laurie Beck Peterson, September 28th with Gum Bichromate


As a student, you’ll have ongoing access to every new module and to guest lectures from leading practitioners.

The Academy is committed to continual refinement—expanding each month into one of the most comprehensive and detailed programs in the field of alternative processes.


Until August 20th, we’re accepting 35 new members at a reduced enrolment fee

(NEW: You can now enrol and choose to pay later or in monthly installments through Klarna)


Please note that due to the online nature of our course, we do not offer refunds. We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise, but we have a strict no-refund policy in place. Therefore, we encourage you to thoroughly review the course details and requirements before enrolling to ensure that it aligns with your goals and expectations. If you have any questions or doubts about our course, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or send us a direct message on our Instagram page. We will do our best to answer your queries promptly and provide you with the necessary information to help you make an informed decision about whether our course is the right fit for you.

By purchasing APA, you agree to the disclaimer of liability for misuse of chemicals and products stated above. This disclaimer acknowledges the risks associated with using chemicals and products and requires the course participant to assume all responsibility and hold the course creator harmless from any liability. The course creator is not responsible for any misuse of chemicals and products by the participant and shall have no liability for any injuries or damages resulting from such misuse. Read all terms of use here.

FAQs


Is the course in English? Are there subtitles?
Yes. The course is taught in English and comes with English subtitles.
Do I need a darkroom?
We have a module on liquid emulsion that requires a darkroom with a wet and a dry area (chemicals + enlarger), for this reason we've included an introduction module on darkroom printing (Module 2). Inside the Camera-less Photography module, Photograms require a full darkroom, Watergrams and Chemigrams require only the wet area (chemicals) and no enlarger. All the other processes don't require a darkroom.
Do I need a lot of space?
No, most of the processes just need a surface to coat on (can be a desk, floor, the top of a washing machine..) and a dark cabinet to store the paper while drying. Each module comes with an explanatory slide of the materials needed and shows my exact set up for each process.
How much will I need to spend in chemicals and tools?
It entirely depends on the availability and cost of chemicals in your country. We provide a list of the most famous suppliers and online shops divided by country. Aside from the modules where a darkroom is required (Module 2 & Module 6) all the process can be done with little space and few tools that you might already have at home.
If I'm having troubles with a process, what kind of support do I get?
All students will receive accesso to the same APA course. On top of that, there are 2 levels of support. If you purchase APA you will get access to a Discord server where you can ask questions. Other students, Chiara and the AP team will respond based on availability. You will also be able to join our Monthly Community Calls: live calls where we discuss techniques, challenges, ideas and projects. APA and 1:1 support students will get access to all the mentioned above plus 5 hours of 1:1 coaching and mentoring with Chiara, founder and curator of Alternative Processes, to discuss anything regarding printing, art practice development and online presence.

Is the course taught online? Can I join regardless of where I am?
Yes! The course is pre-recorded, can be watched and re-watched as one pleases at your own pace. For Monthly Community Calls, they will be organised to facilitate multiple timezones and possibly provide 2 time options if needed.

Can I ask for a refund?
Because of the online nature of the course we do not offer refunds under any circumstances. Please make sure you are 100% committed before enrolling. We are happy to answer any questions you have to make sure APA is the right fit for you beforehand!
What is Discord? I'm not familiar, will I be able to use it?
Discord is a free communication platform that has become popular for building communities and sharing knowledge. Discord allows users to join servers, which are essentially virtual spaces where people can chat, share information, and collaborate with one another. Within a server there different channels for different topics (each channel will correspond to a process. Discord is easy to use, the platform has a user-friendly interface and it's designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate. Our monthly community calls will be hosted on discord.