Harold Julian, 21, and Christa Wong, 19, appear to be exact opposites. He's shy; she's gregarious; he's serious, she's a laugh a minute; he's local and unassuming, she's New York and not afraid to speak her mind.

However, since they found each other on MySpace last March, the pair have been inseparable. Julian is an aspiring fashion photographer and Wong does hair and makeup. Together they are passionately pursuing careers in fashion styling and photography.

How do they do that in Honolulu? They scout underground fashion shows such as Ground Up Pirates, and other venues that crop up in the current hotbed of Honolulu fashion, Chinatown. They network at Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai'i-Manoa and on the Web at www.haroldjulianphoto.com. Determined to build up their own portfolios, they often shoot photos for up-and-coming models as well as aspiring designers. Asael and Andy South have benefited from their services.

By the way, they are both quick to tell you that theirs is a collaborative partnership and close friendship, but not a romance.

These two starving artists have dreams of relocating to New York and working or studying at Parsons, which Wong attended for one semester. Both live with their families and work as many hours as they can to save money for a future move.

Reach Paula Rath at paularath@aol.com.