A mobile terminal, comprising a display unit, a memory, a photographing unit, and a controller, wherein: the memory is configured to store first photographing distance information as reference information for releasing a lock mode in which a touch input applied to the display unit is restricted, the first photographing distance information including a plurality of photographing distances (D1, D2) between the photographing unit and a plurality of coordinates (P1, P2) defined on a surface of a subject in a previously obtained first face image; the photographing unit is configured to obtain a preview image by photographing the subject in the lock mode; the display unit is configured to display the preview image; and the controller is configured to perform a face recognition function by: performing a zoom function of the photographing unit based on a difference between a representative photographing distance of the first face image and a representative photographing distance of the preview image, wherein the representative photographing distance is any one of a minimum value, a maximum value and an average value of a plurality of photographing distances (D1, D2) between the plurality of coordinates (P1, P2) of a surface of the subject and the photographing unit, capturing a second image from the preview image when representative photographing distances (D1, D2) correspond to each other, wherein the preview image in a state in which a person's eyes are closed is disregarded, and the preview image in a state in which the person's eyes are open is captured as the second image, and releasing the lock mode based on a result of comparing the first photographing distance information and second photographing distance information which includes a plurality of photographing distances (D1, D2) between the photographing unit and the plurality of coordinates (P1, P2) defined on a surface of the subject in the second image. the memory is configured to store first photographing distance information as reference information for releasing a lock mode in which a touch input applied to the display unit is restricted, the first photographing distance information including a plurality of photographing distances (D1, D2) between the photographing unit and a plurality of coordinates (P1, P2) defined on a surface of a subject in a previously obtained first face image; the photographing unit is configured to obtain a preview image by photographing the subject in the lock mode; the display unit is configured to display the preview image; and the controller is configured to perform a face recognition function by: performing a zoom function of the photographing unit based on a difference between a representative photographing distance of the first face image and a representative photographing distance of the preview image, wherein the representative photographing distance is any one of a minimum value, a maximum value and an average value of a plurality of photographing distances (D1, D2) between the plurality of coordinates (P1, P2) of a surface of the subject and the photographing unit, capturing a second image from the preview image when representative photographing distances (D1, D2) correspond to each other, wherein the preview image in a state in which a person's eyes are closed is disregarded, and the preview image in a state in which the person's eyes are open is captured as the second image, and releasing the lock mode based on a result of comparing the first photographing distance information and second photographing distance information which includes a plurality of photographing distances (D1, D2) between the photographing unit and the plurality of coordinates (P1, P2) defined on a surface of the subject in the second image. performing a zoom function of the photographing unit based on a difference between a representative photographing distance of the first face image and a representative photographing distance of the preview image, wherein the representative photographing distance is any one of a minimum value, a maximum value and an average value of a plurality of photographing distances (D1, D2) between the plurality of coordinates (P1, P2) of a surface of the subject and the photographing unit, capturing a second image from the preview image when representative photographing distances (D1, D2) correspond to each other, wherein the preview image in a state in which a person's eyes are closed is disregarded, and the preview image in a state in which the person's eyes are open is captured as the second image, and releasing the lock mode based on a result of comparing the first photographing distance information and second photographing distance information which includes a plurality of photographing distances (D1, D2) between the photographing unit and the plurality of coordinates (P1, P2) defined on a surface of the subject in the second image.