You most definitely need stabilizer. Non woven is better than woven.
If you can hoop your material very tightly you can sometime get away without using stabilizer. I've done it but the draw back is you are hampered by the size of the throat of your machine and have to keep rehooping. I usually start with a cloth cartoon, though some draw the outline on their material. There is no reason a photo print wouldn't work.
Go for it!
MaryKatherine

:)What a great talent you have, squirrels cute too.

I have never seen a squirrel like this , but oh so cute.

Adorable, OMG, he is adorable. You did such a fabulous job

Wow! You certainly are talented!!!

You are AMAZING. BrendaK

Wonderful quilt - great job!

The quilt is as cute as the real thing.

Pat in MN

Fantastic thread painting!

I love how you did his tail, well the whole piece is great, but that tail is spectacular!