Blessings and Rabbi Photos

Many houses have pictures of Rabbis on the walls. Is it permitted to say blessings (such as the prayer after eating food) in front of these pictures and portraits? I'm afraid it might seem as if we are praying to them rather than to God.

There is no problem whatsoever with saying any blessings while there is a picture of a Rabbi on the wall. In fact, many very great rabbis were very supportive of the idea that pictures of this type be put on the walls of homes, so that both the adults and the children can be constantly reminded of those who spend all their times involved in nothing but Torah.