An image taking apparatus according to an aspect of the invention comprises: an image pickup device which picks up an object image and outputs the picked-up image data; a face detection device which detects human faces in the image data; a face-distance calculating device which calculates the distance between the faces among a plurality of faces detected by the face detection device; and a controlling device which controls the image pickup device to start shooting, after a shooting instruction is issued, in the case where the distance between the faces calculated by the face-distance calculating device is not greater than a first predetermined threshold value. The image taking apparatus allows shooting the moment the distance between the faces is close enough not be greater than to a predetermined threshold value.