Systems and methods are described herein for tagging images for placement in a graphical layout based on characteristics of depicted faces. The brightness of each face depicted is determined and, if the brightness of any face is below a threshold level of brightness, the image is tagged with a negative identifier indicating that the image cannot be dimmed. If the brightness of every face exceeds the threshold level of brightness, then the image is tagged with a positive identifier indicating that the image can be dimmed. The resolution of the image is also determined and, if the resolution currently affects any face, the image is tagged with a negative identifier indicating that the image cannot be blurred. If the resolution does not affect any face, and further blurring will not affect any image, then the image is tagged with a positive identifier indicating that the image can be blurred.