If I do it, will it be a problem? There's a lot of things I want to draw that aren't anywhere near me, but it's really really hard to find photos of these things that are either public domain or at least creative commons. I also don't want to have to ask permission from every random website I find photos on, but then again I don't want to use their stuff without asking.

Also I suck at coming up with layouts and stuff for drawings if it's not based on a photo.

I wouldn't worry about it unless you make close copies of the photos and plan on selling them. I've gone to the trouble of asking first also, but it was usually for fine art that the photographer makes a living doing. By the way, I've never been told no. They were flattered that someone liked the material enough to want to draw it.