A method determining image orientation includes determining if an image includes an orientation tag and if the tag indicates the image is rotated +90 or −90 degrees. When the image does not include the tag or the tag does not indicate the image is rotated, the method includes determining if a face is detected in the original image and displaying the original image when a face is detected. When a face is not detected, the method includes rotating the image +90 and −90 degrees and detecting a face in the rotated images. When a face is not detected, the method includes applying a classifier to determine the image's proper orientation. When a face is detected in one rotated image, the method includes displaying the rotated image. When a face is detected in both rotated images, the method includes applying the classifier to determine the image's proper orientation.