In my opinion, maps are always representations of geography, and not aerial photos. I would never put clouds in a regional map (for example), as clouds aren't permanent so don't belong on a map. In the case of rivers, which mostly can't be seen at all from a satellite view. Unless a river 10 or more miles wide, you'd never see it. But in a map, I show all rivers (all major rivers, anyway), and in no way are they depicted as reality. These are supposed to be maps, not aerial photos - true scale reality doesn't belong in a map. If you want things that accurate call it a photo and not a map.

Sorry, I don't mean to be that hard on you, but over-realism in maps is a problem especially happening for new cartographers.