To notify a timing of actual flash to an object by pre-flash.

When a pre-flash mode is selected, charging to first and second capacitors starts, and when the capacitors are fully charged, a pre-flash preparation processing is finished. In response to the input of release instructions to a CPU, the pre-flash starts in the strobe apparatus. At the first stage of the pre-flash, a current I1 is applied on first and fourth LEDs for (t) seconds, at the second stage, a current I2 is applied for (t) seconds, and at the third stage, a current I3 is applied for (t) seconds. Consequently, the pre-flash is carried out by a light emitter while increasing the light emission quantity of the first to fourth LEDs in order of the first stage to the third stage. When the light emission at the third stage ends, the pre-flash is finished, and a current I4 is applied on the first to fourth LEDs so as to carry out the actual flash. Since the actual flash is carried out after the pre-flash while gradually increasing the light emission quantity, a red eye phenomenon is prevented, and also, the timing of actual flash is notified to the object.