Image rights and likeness decide when you may show a real person, and they are separate from copyright. Owning a photo does not give you the right to use someone's face however you like.
Creators run into this most with thumbnails, ads, and memes built from other people's pictures.
Copyright belongs to whoever took or made the image. Likeness rights belong to the person shown, and they control commercial use of their face, name, or voice.
You can hold a valid photo license and still need permission from the person in it. Two different owners, two different questions.
Editorial use, like a news story about a public figure, usually needs less consent than advertising. Commercial use that implies endorsement almost always needs a release.
A model release is the document that grants that permission. Stock sites often include one, but check whether your planned use falls inside its scope.
Fame lowers some barriers around newsworthy use, but it does not remove likeness rights. Selling merchandise with a celebrity face is a fast route to a lawsuit.
Even a lookalike or an AI generated version can trigger a claim if viewers connect it to a real person. Courts care about recognition, not technique.
A photo license and a person's consent are two different keys to the same door.
Prefer your own images, licensed stock with releases, or clearly editorial contexts. Keep a record of any consent you get.
When a face drives your ad, get the release in writing. This is general information, not legal advice, and a professional can review your specific use.
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