In order to prevent white compression from occurring in an image obtained by photography with a photography apparatus such as a digital camera, preliminary photography is carried out and actual photography is carried out while a flash control unit reduces an amount of light from a flash in the case where a predetermined target such as a human face is included in a preliminary image. Image processing is carried out on an actual image obtained through the actual photography for adjusting luminance and/or gradation of the predetermined target in the actual image.