Capturing an Iconic Image for a Star of Today

Gioncarlo Valentine wanted to give “classic Rolling Stone,” mixed with a hint of Lady Gaga, when he shot King Princess (The Mix, p. 15, as well as our latest digital cover). “I was trying to find the balance between something that felt polished and glossy, and something that felt honest,” he says. Valentine adds that he enjoyed exploring the star’s vulnerable yet hardened energy — and it helped that King Princess knows what she wants. “If KP doesn’t like it, she’ll say, ‘This isn’t working,’ “says Valentine, who’s been photographing for 12 years and lives in New York City. “I appreciated the clarity.”