A photokinetic model for elucidating the holographic recording mechanism in photochromic polymers is presented. Holographic recording in the visible range by bleaching of precolored material is emphasized. The predictions for three different exposure configurations agree well with the experimental responses of holographic gratings recorded in spirooxazine containing polymer films. The holographic response changes significantly with variations in the exposure configurations, indicating that the thermal and photochemical transformations occur between colorless spirooxazine and two stereoisomeric forms of the colored dye.