A subject information acquisition apparatus comprising: light irradiation means (003, 004, 005) configured to irradiate a subject with light; a probe (001, 002) configured to detect an acoustic wave generated in the subject due to the irradiation with the light; moving means configured to change a relative position between the probe (001, 002) and the subject and change a relative position between the light irradiation means and the subject; and control means configured to control the moving means to move the probe (001, 002) and the light irradiation means so that the probe and the light irradiation means performs movement along a path a plurality of times, wherein the moving means is controlled so that the relative position of the probe (001, 002) 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 (001, 002) with respect to the subject when the subject is irradiated with the light during a second movement along the path performed after the first movement along the path, and so that the positions on the subject irradiated with light from the light irradiation means during the first movement along the path differs from the positions on the subject irradiated with light from the light irradiation means during the second movement along the path, and wherein the subject information acquisition apparatus further comprises signal processing means (008, 009) for generating image data on the subject by using a plurality of signals based on the acoustic wave detected by the probe (001, 002) at a plurality of positions during the first movement along the path and a plurality of signals based on the acoustic wave detected by the probe (001, 002) at a plurality of positions during the second movement along the path. light irradiation means (003, 004, 005) configured to irradiate a subject with light; a probe (001, 002) configured to detect an acoustic wave generated in the subject due to the irradiation with the light; moving means configured to change a relative position between the probe (001, 002) and the subject and change a relative position between the light irradiation means and the subject; and control means configured to control the moving means to move the probe (001, 002) and the light irradiation means so that the probe and the light irradiation means performs movement along a path a plurality of times, wherein the moving means is controlled so that the relative position of the probe (001, 002) 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 (001, 002) with respect to the subject when the subject is irradiated with the light during a second movement along the path performed after the first movement along the path, and so that the positions on the subject irradiated with light from the light irradiation means during the first movement along the path differs from the positions on the subject irradiated with light from the light irradiation means during the second movement along the path, and wherein the subject information acquisition apparatus further comprises signal processing means (008, 009) for generating image data on the subject by using a plurality of signals based on the acoustic wave detected by the probe (001, 002) at a plurality of positions during the first movement along the path and a plurality of signals based on the acoustic wave detected by the probe (001, 002) at a plurality of positions during the second movement along the path.