An image pickup apparatus including an image pickup device configured to obtain a captured image corresponding to an object image, an object detecting unit configured to detect a specific object in the captured image, an position obtaining unit configured to obtain a position at which the specific object exists in the captured image, a composition specifying unit configured to specify a recommended composition on the basis of the existence position of the specific object when the specific object is viewed as a main object, and an instruction control unit configured to instruct the execution of a predetermined operation which notifies a user of the recommended composition.