To make it possible to form an image high in developed color density even in the case of low minimum density and to form a sharp image small in stains due to coloring with the lapse of time even in the case of storage for a long period by processing the photosensitive material containing a color developing reducing agent and a dye-forming coupler with an alkali activator and then, processing it with a stabilizing solution containing an image stabilizer.

The photosensitive material containing the dye-forming coupler and one of the color developing reducing agents represented by the formula: R11-NHNH-X-R12 is processed, after development, with the stabilizing solution containing an onium compound having 4 carbon atoms and/or a basic compound having a dissociation constant of 10-14. In the formula, R11 is an aryl or heterocyclic group; R12 is an alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl aryl, or heterocyclic group; and X is a -SO2-, -CO-, -COCO-, -CO-O-, -CO-N(R13)-, -COCO-O-, -COCO-N(R13)-, or -SO2-N(R13)-; and R13 is an H atom or a group same as R12.