An image pickup apparatus is provided which performs correction of shading without performing correction of an image signal with a complicated algorithm or a large-scale correction circuit. The image pickup apparatus includes light irradiation unit that irradiates light on an object of image pickup and an image pickup element that receives reflected light or transmitted light from the object of image pickup to generate an electric signal corresponding to an amount of received light, in which a light receiving condition of a pixel of the image pickup element is changed such that shading of a signal from the image pickup element is corrected. The light receiving condition is changed by changing areas of opening portions of pixels 10-1 to 10-5 of the image pickup element, a shape of a lens provided on the opening parts, or an impurity concentration in a photoelectric conversion region of the image pickup element, or changing storage time, storing being performed through driving of the image pickup element.