I'll start by coming clean. As you probably know, I like to use photo references for the fictional characters (among other things) in my stories. The photos I use to do this are not my property, I don't ask the models for permission to use their image, and I am well aware that this practice is harmful if left unchecked.
That is why I have self-imposed rules to try and mitigate the damage I may be causing. My rules are as follows:
- Never use the photos to make a profit.
- Only use models that not only knew that the whole world could see their picture, but were likely counting on it. (Hence why I rely on Instagram influencers, actors, or actual models. I have never stolen a random person's profile picture off of social media, nor will I ever.)
- Do not use household names (this one is mostly so that I don't get anyone in the comments calling out my use of Beyonce or JLaw, etc)
- If anyone involved in the creation of the original photos contacts me and tells me to take them down, do so immediately.
Do these rules make my practice morally permissible? I like to think so, but I guess that's not really my call to make. That's why I've made this topic. And just as a reminder: we're NOT here to discuss whether or not illustrated stories are cool. There's already a topic for that. https://tugstories.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... res#p41250
Moving along: If it is determined that what I'm doing is wrong, then I have found an alternative that I believe to be 100% ethical. You see, the two people you see below do not exist.
They are 'deep fakes'. Computer-generated fabrications. And yes, I know that's kinda scary, but that is also a topic for another time. Here's an article on how they work if you're interested: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/202 ... faces.html
So then, if I already have a safe alternative, why aren't I using it? Well yes, they do have the advantage of being 100% ethical AND original, but they also have their downsides.
- They only feature close-ups of the face.
Any body features, poses, apparel, or other details you may have wanted to include are simply not there. My characters will be reduced to nothing but a single mugshot.
- The deep fakes don't always generate the ideal model.
I typically put a good amount of work into finding an image that not only looks beautiful but fits my story as best as it can. With the deep fakes, I'm forced to just refresh the page over and over until I see someone I like. They likely won't be as beautiful or distinct as they would be if I could pull from other sources. I've also noticed that the vast majority of faces these programs generate are middle-aged caucasians. Other ages and races can pop up given enough attempts, but if you want to use deep fakes for a story featuring a black 20-year-old, good luck.
- The deep fakes can't really generate hats, earrings or hair accessories. Like, at all.
Also, the backgrounds tend to be horrifically distorted (if they aren't already blurred out).
So... that's where I'm at. I welcome all feedback on this subject. Let's hear what you guys have to say?