A video recording apparatus optimally records partial images made up of a partial area from an original image and containing a feature point such as person's face. An imaging unit acquires the original image by imaging at a resolution higher than the pixel count used for video recording. A feature point detector detects one or more feature points from the original image. A partial image clipper clips, from the original image, a partial image containing a feature point selected by the user. An encoder encodes the clipped partial image. A recording unit then records the encoded partial image toa recording medium. In so doing, the user is able to select a recording subject from a summary of detected feature points before or during video recording, and thus record a desired face.