An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup sensor, at least one memory that stores instructions, and at least one processor in communication with the at least one memory and configured to execute the instructions to detect motion information of the image pickup sensor when a plurality of images is continuously shot while the image pickup sensor is being moved in a predetermined direction, to calculate a motion vector indicating a moving amount of a subject between the plurality of images shot by the image pickup sensor, by changing a search position for calculating the motion vector from a default setting value based on the motion information of the image pickup sensor, and to align and to synthesize the plurality of shot images to thereby generate a composite image based on the motion vectors.