A subject information obtaining apparatus that obtains information regarding a subject, the apparatus comprising: a light source configured to generate pulsed light; a probe including a receiver configured to receive an acoustic wave generated in the subject by pulsed light generated by the light source and convert the acoustic wave to an electric signal, a first irradiation unit, and a second irradiation unit, the first and second irradiation units configured to irradiate mutually different areas on a surface of the subject with the pulsed light generated by the light source; a signal processing unit configured to obtain the information regarding the subject by using the electric signal; and a control unit configured to control illumination positions of the pulsed light to avoid continuous irradiation of the subject with the pulsed light from each of the first irradiation unit and the second irradiation unit, wherein the control unit is configured to control the first irradiation unit and the second irradiation unit to alternately illuminate the pulsed light such that the frequency at which the acoustic wave is generated can be increased, wherein the receiver is configured to receive an acoustic wave generated in the subject having been irradiated with the pulsed light from the first irradiation unit and to convert the acoustic wave to a first electric signal, and to receive an acoustic wave generated in the subject having been irradiated with the pulsed light from the second irradiation unit and convert the acoustic wave to a second electric signal; the control unit is configured to control timing of light irradiation from the first irradiation unit and timing of light irradiation from the second irradiation unit; and the signal processing unit is configured to perform processing on the first electric signal and the second electric signal to obtain the information regarding the subject. a light source configured to generate pulsed light; a probe including a receiver configured to receive an acoustic wave generated in the subject by pulsed light generated by the light source and convert the acoustic wave to an electric signal, a first irradiation unit, and a second irradiation unit, the first and second irradiation units configured to irradiate mutually different areas on a surface of the subject with the pulsed light generated by the light source; a signal processing unit configured to obtain the information regarding the subject by using the electric signal; and a control unit configured to control illumination positions of the pulsed light to avoid continuous irradiation of the subject with the pulsed light from each of the first irradiation unit and the second irradiation unit, wherein the control unit is configured to control the first irradiation unit and the second irradiation unit to alternately illuminate the pulsed light such that the frequency at which the acoustic wave is generated can be increased, wherein the receiver is configured to receive an acoustic wave generated in the subject having been irradiated with the pulsed light from the first irradiation unit and to convert the acoustic wave to a first electric signal, and to receive an acoustic wave generated in the subject having been irradiated with the pulsed light from the second irradiation unit and convert the acoustic wave to a second electric signal; the control unit is configured to control timing of light irradiation from the first irradiation unit and timing of light irradiation from the second irradiation unit; and the signal processing unit is configured to perform processing on the first electric signal and the second electric signal to obtain the information regarding the subject.