An exposure value is determined based on a face region, with high accuracy and with less effect of a background region or density contrast caused by shadow. For this purpose, a face detection unit detects a face region from a face candidate region in a through image detected by a face candidate detection unit, by fitting to the face candidate region a mathematical model generated by a method of AAM using a plurality of sample images representing human faces. An exposure value determination unit then determines an exposure value for photography, based on the face region.