Can I Use Bree Turner Photos For Fan Art Under Fair Use?

I tend to think in quick-rule terms: photograph copyright belongs to the photographer, and a person’s likeness can be protected by publicity rights. If you’re using a Bree Turner photo directly—editing it, printing it, or selling prints—you’re probably dealing with two separate legal questions: copyright and rights of publicity. Fair use can apply, but it’s a case-by-case test. I always check four things in my head: am I transforming it, is the original creative in nature, how much of it am I using, and could my use hurt the market for the original? Those guide whether a use might be defensible.

In practice I avoid gray areas by either creating a wholly new piece from memory/reference, using licensed images, or contacting the rights-holder for permission. Attribution doesn’t replace permission, and low-res or “minor edits” won’t reliably save you. For fans who want to sell, getting permission or using stock/reference you own is the smartest move. Personally, I prefer to remix and reinterpret—keeps my work original and my evenings calmer.

This question trips up a lot of folks in fan communities, and I’ve spent more time than I’d like poking around the legal bits to get a sense of the practical rules.

Photos are usually copyrighted to the photographer, not the person pictured, so using an actual Bree Turner photo—cropping it, color-grading it, or slapping it up for prints—can still infringe the photographer’s copyright unless you have permission or a license. On top of that, Bree Turner is a recognizable person, which brings in publicity and privacy rights in some places; those rights can limit commercial use of her likeness even if the copyright owner doesn’t mind. Fair use is a thing, but it’s not a magic shield. Courts weigh four factors: purpose and character (is your use transformative or commercial?), nature of the original (photographs are creative works and get strong protection), amount used (using the whole photo weighs against fair use), and market effect (does your work substitute for the original or reduce its market?).

What I usually tell people in my online groups is to treat photos as reference material, not as raw, editable canvases for fan merch. If you’re making fan art that’s clearly a new expression—say a highly stylized painting or a satirical collage that comments on the original—you have a stronger fair-use argument. If you’re selling prints made directly from a photographer’s Bree Turner portrait, don’t be surprised if you need a license or permission. Practical steps I take: hunt for licensed or Creative Commons images, ask for written permission when possible, or create my own reference shots. I also avoid claiming fair use as a blanket defense if I’m selling something; it’s safer to get rights upfront. Personally, I lean toward creating original reinterpretations—it keeps my conscience clean and my work more interesting.

I like the creativity of fan art, and I’m pretty candid about how I handle using photos for reference. Using Bree Turner photos as inspiration—studying lighting, pose, or costume—is totally different from using the actual photo as the base of your work. If I redraw or paint from imagination while looking at a photo, that’s generally much safer in my book: you’ve internalized the reference and produced an original piece. But if you trace, heavily edit, or reproduce the photographer’s image, that’s when the copyright owner could have a real complaint.

I’ll also add that context matters: posting a noncommercial piece on social media might fly under the radar, but platforms and photographers vary, and some will still issue takedowns. Monetizing (selling prints, commissions, or merch) raises the stakes significantly. Right of publicity is another layer—using a celebrity’s image to advertise or sell something can prompt claims even if the underlying photo is licensed. When I’ve been risk-averse, I either get permission or I take my own photos that capture the same vibe. Another trick is to heavily manipulate and transform, adding commentary or parody elements that make the work expressive and distinct; that’s the classic fair-use leaning strategy.

So yes, you can make fan art inspired by Bree Turner photos if you transform and create original expression, but using the photo itself without license—especially for money—is risky. I usually choose to remix and reinvent rather than rely on someone else’s shot; it’s more fun and less stressful.