An image photographing method and an apparatus in a portable terminal is provided. The method includes photographing an image a number of times with an interval when a photographing signal is input in an optimum subject photographing mode, recognizing a subject from the photographed images, extracting a candidate image which includes the recognized subject, determining a validity of the extracted candidate image, displaying one of the photographed images as a representative image, and dividing and displaying a valid candidate image which is determined as a valid candidate image and an invalid candidate image which is determined as an invalid candidate image on one side of the displayed representative image, or displaying only the valid candidate image.