A photoacoustic apparatus is used that includes a light irradiating unit irradiating a subject that is part of an examinee with light； a probe receiving an acoustic wave generated from the subject irradiated with the light and outputs a signal； and a determining unit determining, based on information related to a specific light absorbing region on a surface of the subject, whether or not a masking member that optically masks the specific light absorbing region is arranged at a specific position.
