A three-dimensional (3D) image photographing apparatus including: an image sensor; a 3D shutter which is disposed on the light path of the image light and comprises a first opening and a second opening, and which sequentially executes a first operation of passing a first image light by opening only the first opening, a second operation of blocking both the first opening and the second opening, and a third operation of passing a second image light by opening only the second opening; and a control unit which is electrically connected to the image sensor and the 3D shutter and which synchronizes a vertical synchronization signal which is applied to the image sensor with a starting time of the second operation by controlling the image sensor and the 3D shutter.