A photosensitive material comprises a photosensitive and heat-developable element, and further a light-to-heat conversion element or a nonlinear optical function element. The photosensitive and heat-developable element comprises at least a photosensitive silver halide, an organic silver salt and a reducing agent. The light-to-heat conversion element comprises at least one of an inorganic metal and an organic coloring matter. The nonlinear optical function element comprises a comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of an inorganic crystal, an organic crystal, a polymer, a polymeric liquid crystal, a polymeric composition and a polymeric liquid crystal composition. An image forming method employing the photosensitive material comprises the steps of imagewise exposing the material by use of a laser beam, heating the material and forming a polymer image on the material.