To provide an imaging apparatus enabling photographing of a subject at more appropriate timing and with a photographing condition that a photographer intends in the imaging apparatus performing automatic photographing by smile detection.

The imaging apparatus includes: an imaging element; imaging control means imaging the subject by using the imaging element; face detecting means detecting a face from the subject; expression change detecting means detecting change of expression from the face detected by the face detecting means; and setting changing means for changing a setting of the imaging apparatus. A subject image is automatically photographed in accordance with the change of the expression of the subject, which is detected by the expression change detecting means. If prescribed time does not elapse after the setting change means changes the setting of the imaging apparatus when the expression change detecting means determines that the expression of the subject is changed, photographing is prevented from being automatically performed.