A 19-year-old soon-to-be star, then known simply as Stefani Germanotta, poses for a photo at her parents' place in New York City. Although photographer Malgorzata Saniewska didn't know it at the time, it would be one of the first photo shoots of the pop star Lady Gaga.
A 19-year-old soon-to-be star, then known simply as Stefani Germanotta, poses for a photo at her parents' place in New York City. Although photographer Malgorzata Saniewska didn't know it at the time, it would be one of the first photo shoots of the pop star Lady Gaga.
Malgorzata Saniewska/Corbis
Germanotta and Saniewska worked together at a restaurant. Germanotta was a waitress. Saniewska was a bartender.
Germanotta and Saniewska worked together at a restaurant. Germanotta was a waitress. Saniewska was a bartender.
Malgorzata Saniewska/Corbis
"She gave me a CD of her first single, and I listened to it and I was really impressed," Saniewska remembered. "And she's a beautiful girl. Based on her looks and her personality I thought (a photo shoot) would be great fun."
"She gave me a CD of her first single, and I listened to it and I was really impressed," Saniewska remembered. "And she's a beautiful girl. Based on her looks and her personality I thought (a photo shoot) would be great fun."
Malgorzata Saniewska/Corbis
The photo shoot was at the home of Germanotta's parents.
The photo shoot was at the home of Germanotta's parents.
Malgorzata Saniewska/Corbis
"The house was empty, it was just the two of us," Saniewska said. "I knew she was a singer, so our focus was her and her very first piano."
"The house was empty, it was just the two of us," Saniewska said. "I knew she was a singer, so our focus was her and her very first piano."
Malgorzata Saniewska/Corbis
The lighting was natural. "No strobe lights, nothing special, no tripods," Saniewska said.
The lighting was natural. "No strobe lights, nothing special, no tripods," Saniewska said.
Malgorzata Saniewska/Corbis
"She did hair and makeup, picked out the clothes and we started," Saniewska recalled.
"She did hair and makeup, picked out the clothes and we started," Saniewska recalled.
Malgorzata Saniewska/Corbis
Back then, Gaga "played piano and sang," Saniewska said. "This 19-year-old girl, she was really talented. She didn't talk about it a lot, (but) she did say that she studied music. ... I cannot even explain to you what she sounds like with just a piano, then or now."
Back then, Gaga "played piano and sang," Saniewska said. "This 19-year-old girl, she was really talented. She didn't talk about it a lot, (but) she did say that she studied music. ... I cannot even explain to you what she sounds like with just a piano, then or now."
Malgorzata Saniewska/Corbis
Saniewska said she shot around 200 photos that day.
Saniewska said she shot around 200 photos that day.
Malgorzata Saniewska/Corbis
Saniewska gave Germanotta a CD of the pictures. The singer was happy with them, the photographer said, and used some of the art for her own promotional materials.
Saniewska gave Germanotta a CD of the pictures. The singer was happy with them, the photographer said, and used some of the art for her own promotional materials.
Malgorzata Saniewska/Corbis
As Lady Gaga's fame continued to grow, Saniewska kept the early photos to herself "out of respect," she said, particularly because she wasn't in touch with her.
As Lady Gaga's fame continued to grow, Saniewska kept the early photos to herself "out of respect," she said, particularly because she wasn't in touch with her.
Malgorzata Saniewska/Corbis
The two would later bump into each other in 2010.
The two would later bump into each other in 2010.
Malgorzata Saniewska/Corbis
"I actually ran into her in the East Village, and she came up to me," Saniewska said. "She was already Lady Gaga, and we spoke a little, and she leaned on me, and she said in my ear, 'Did you know that this was my first photo shoot?' I had no idea. She was really excited. From that moment on I figured I could do something about it. And she's OK with it."
"I actually ran into her in the East Village, and she came up to me," Saniewska said. "She was already Lady Gaga, and we spoke a little, and she leaned on me, and she said in my ear, 'Did you know that this was my first photo shoot?' I had no idea. She was really excited. From that moment on I figured I could do something about it. And she's OK with it."
Malgorzata Saniewska/Corbis
"She didn't say 'Hi' and run off," Saniewska said. "She stood there for 15 minutes, just chatting. She remembered my name, she remembered who I was, and she had so much to say. She's still the same person to me."
"She didn't say 'Hi' and run off," Saniewska said. "She stood there for 15 minutes, just chatting. She remembered my name, she remembered who I was, and she had so much to say. She's still the same person to me."
Malgorzata Saniewska/Corbis
Saniewska hopes that those viewing the photos will get to see another side of Gaga.
Saniewska hopes that those viewing the photos will get to see another side of Gaga.
Malgorzata Saniewska/Corbis