In an image capture mode of a camera, a face area is detected from each of live-view images of a subject captured periodically (step S2). Information on the detected face area is stored in a detection result storage area (131) (step S4). When a shutter button is fully depressed (YES in step S5), a full-size image is acquired (step S6). Then, it is determined whether face area information is stored in the area 131 (step S7). If so (YES in step S7), information on an angle through which the camera is rotated to obtain a face area with the highest selection priority is selected from the face area information stored (step S8). Then, the face area detecting process is performed on the full-size image, using characteristic data on the face area involving the selected angle information (step S9).