An exposure control apparatus according to this invention includes an image sensing unit that senses an object image, and an exposure controller that performs the exposure control for photographing by selectively using a first exposure control mode in which an exposure value for photographing is determined while exposure control is performed in accordance with the brightness of object images repetitively sensed by the image sensing unit, and a second exposure control mode in which an exposure value for photographing is determined by performing exposure control by using a plurality of preset exposure values.