1. An image processing method, comprising: an object detection step of detecting one or a plurality of specific objects from an input image; a first area estimation step of estimating a first area in which identification information for identifying the object exists, from a position of the object detected in said object detection step; a second area detection step of detecting a second area including the identification information, within the first area estimated in said first area estimation step; an image processing step of performing image processing with respect to the second area detected in said second area detection step; and an identification information recognition step of performing character recognition processing of the identification information with respect to a processing result in said image processing step, and associating a result of the character recognition processing with the input image, wherein said object detection step detects an object by detecting a face position of the object, wherein said object detection step is capable of detecting not only the face position of the object, but also an orientation of the face, and wherein said image processing step controls, on an image of the second area, execution of image processing in which an interval of characters assumed to be arranged based on the orientation of the face detected in said object detection step is extended and contracted in a predetermined direction.