A subject information acquisition apparatus includes light irradiation means for irradiating a subject with light, a probe configured to detect an acoustic wave generated in the subject due to the irradiation of the light, moving means for changing a relative position between the probe and the subject, and control means configured to control the moving means to move the probe so that the probe makes a movement along a path a plurality of times. The moving means is controlled so that the relative position of the probe with respect to the subject when the subject is irradiated with the light during a first movement along the path differs from the relative position of the probe with respect to the subject when the subject is irradiated with the light during a second movement along the path successively performed after the first movement along the path.
