Last night, while strolling the lobby of the fashion tent at Fashion Week El Paseo in Palm Desert, I unexpectedly ran into BoxEIGHT owner and photographer (and former SSLA subject) Pete Gurnz. Turns out the affable lensman was celebrating the release of his new book, We are all Kids…Naked + Beautiful, which just dropped yesterday. But only 50 of the large, hardcover display-worthy books have been printed. Meaning that fans hoping to snag Gurnz’ tasteful collection of nudes have two choices: Venture down to the the desert on Sunday where he will be signing and selling the $250 tomes at Melissa Morgan Fine Art in Palm Desert, or wait about eight months or so when the mass-printed (and likely less expensive) edition debuts from Random House, whom Gurnz just inked a deal with. “But I have no idea what it will be like,” the photographer said. “It could be smaller than this. Who knows. It will be up to the editors.”

Sounds like he wants you to go with choice number one. Either way, congratulations all around.

Pete Gurnz exhibit/ Fashion Week El Paseo closing party. Sunday, March 28. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Melissa Morgan Fine Art, 73040 El Paseo, Palm Desert. 760-341-1056

Photo: Peter Eaton Gurnz