A method of controlling a digital photographing apparatus is provided. Also provided is a digital photographing apparatus using the method and a computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program for executing the method. The method includes displaying a residual image of a background image; setting a partial area of an area on which the residual image is displayed; capturing an image including a subject; extracting a subject image corresponding to the partial area from the image; and generating a composite image by combining the background image and the subject image.