An illustrative apparatus may identify, within an image frame captured by an image capture system, a signal region of the image frame and a background region of the image frame. The apparatus may determine one or more of a signal auto-exposure value of the signal region or a background auto-exposure value of the background region. Based on one or more of the signal auto-exposure value or the background auto-exposure value, the apparatus may determine a frame auto-exposure value. Additionally, based on the frame auto-exposure value, the apparatus may adjust one or more auto-exposure parameters used by the image capture system to capture an additional image frame. Corresponding apparatuses, systems, and methods for managing auto-exposure of image frames are also disclosed.