Systems, methods, and computer readable media for performing auto-exposure operations in a digital image capture device. An image capture device's auto-exposure settings may be automatically adjusted by generating and then combining, in a dynamically weighted fashion, two sets of exposure values. One set of exposure values may be based on detected faces while the other set may be based on the image as a whole. Each set of exposure values may include a “measured” value and a “target” value, wherein each of these values may, in turn, be based on one or more (different) aspects of the image. Illustrative digital image capture devices in which the disclosed technology may be used include, but are not limited, to portable digital cameras, mobile telephones, personal digital assistants, mobile music and video devices, and portable computer platforms such as notebook and tablet computers.