Lady Gaga x Terry Richardson
| Company type | Photo-book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing, Photography |
| Founded | November 22, 2011 |
| Founder | Lady Gaga, Terry Richardson |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Photography book |
| Parent | Grand Central Publishing |
Lady Gaga x Terry Richardson is a photo-book collaboration between American vocalist Lady Gaga and photographer Terry Richardson, published by Grand Central Publishing on November 22, 2011. The collection showcases more than 350 photographs taken over a ten-month span, documenting moments from Gaga's Monster Ball Tour through to the 2011 Grammy Awards. Included is a foreword penned by Gaga, in which she explores her professional and personal connection with Richardson, with whom she had previously worked.
Upon its debut, the publication was met with favorable critiques for its daring and unguarded imagery. It achieved a peak position of number five on The New York Times Best Seller list. In 2013, some of Richardson’s photographs were presented as evidence during litigation involving Gaga's former assistant.
Background and inspiration
The volume features both black-and-white and color photographs captured by Richardson throughout a ten-month timeframe, starting from Gaga's 2010 Lollapalooza appearance up to the concluding performances of her 2009–11 Monster Ball Tour. Over 100,000 images were produced during this period, with a curated selection exceeding 350 featured in the book. In her foreword, Gaga reflects on her rapport with Richardson, emphasizing the deeper understanding gained beyond mere photography.
Prior to this project, Gaga and Richardson had collaborated on advertising campaigns for Supreme as well as editorial shoots for Vogue Hommes Japan and Harper's Bazaar. Jamie Raab, Executive Vice President of Grand Central Publishing, predicted the book would emerge as a highlight in the 2011 holiday publishing season.
Gaga noted her complete openness with Richardson, who documented intimate and unscripted moments such as her morning rituals and behind-the-scenes preparations. Staying true to his signature approach, Richardson produced raw and unfiltered images, including spontaneous interactions with fans. Gaga valued his ability to capture fans authentically, photographing them with the same genuine approach applied to her own portraits.
Release and reception
To promote the book ahead of its launch, Gaga shared a video on her YouTube channel featuring herself reading the foreword. The official release event took place on November 22, 2011, at New York’s New Museum of Contemporary Art, where Gaga personally signed copies. Lady Gaga x Terry Richardson entered The New York Times Best Seller list for hardcover advice/miscellaneous books at number five during the week ending November 26, 2011. It maintained a presence within the top fifteen in subsequent weeks, reappearing in the top ten at number nine during its fifth week and climbing to number six the following week. The UK publishing rights were secured by Hodder & Stoughton, part of Hachette UK.
The book garnered positive critical feedback. New York commended it for revealing the "wild, funky, creative Gaga" beyond her usual magazine appearances. The Los Angeles Times emphasized its candid shots that presented Gaga without makeup or costumes, highlighting the person behind the public image—a view echoed by Diva. The Daily Telegraph described the photographs as polished and entertaining. Meanwhile, Toronto Star drew comparisons to Madonna’s 1992 release Sex, noting that while it attracted less publicity, it contained "outrageous — even disturbing — photographs" of Gaga.
Lawsuit
In June 2013, images captured by photographer Terry Richardson during Lady Gaga's Monster Ball tour became a focal point in legal proceedings. Jennifer O'Neil, Gaga's former assistant, initiated a lawsuit against Gaga's management, claiming unpaid overtime compensation. To substantiate her assertion of an exhaustive work schedule, O'Neil sought access to Richardson's photographs as supporting evidence. A judge in the Manhattan Federal Court mandated Richardson to produce more than 142,000 photos; however, he resisted the order, labeling it as "harassment" and irrelevant to the litigation. Judge Paul G. Gardephe determined that Richardson had not demonstrated any substantial hardship in complying with the request.
Gregory Babcock from Complex magazine noted that Richardson, whose annual income was $58 million, faced considerable financial risk if he complied. Should the photographs be entered into public court records as evidence, they would lose their copyright protection under United States law and become public domain material available for unrestricted use without credit. In October 2013, the New York Post reported that Richardson's appeal was denied, with his attorney stating that the decision inflicted "immeasurable financial loss" on the photographer.