Frequency of unnecessary face detection operations performed in a photographing apparatus is reduced, thereby reducing the power consumption by the face detection operations. A determining unit determines whether or not a photographing condition of the photographing apparatus satisfies a precondition for efficiently using a result of detection by a detecting unit, which detects an image representing a face from images taken through the imaging lens of the photographing apparatus. A controlling unit exerts control such that, if it is determined that the photographing condition of the photographing apparatus satisfies the precondition, the detecting unit carries out the detection, and if it is determined that the photographing condition of the photographing apparatus does not satisfy the precondition, the detecting unit does not carry out the detection.