shots like this?

[Plantshell]

Vaishali and David engagement session | Beautifoto Blog

I really like the feel of these photos and would like to emulate this technique.
If you have any insights as to the shot set ups and post processing, please let me know.

 

[tirediron]

In what respect; these seem like nice, clean, well lit and well exposed shots. I'm not seeing anything particularily unique in them.

 

[thetrue]

Why would you want to emulate out of focus mediocrity? Personally, I'm not a fan of any of those images, so I can't be of any help here.

 

[480sparky39 38]

Personally, I don't know why anyone who want to be a professional would want to copy someone else's style anyway.

Forge your own method. Be unique. Blaze your own trail.

 

[Vautrin]

These shots, as far as I can tell, are quite easy to do:

1. With a lens with a large enough aperture so you can get some bokeh
2. With any number of software filters out there (take your pic which, but I'm pretty sure I'm seeing some Nik Color Efex)
3. With a full frame camera capable of good low iso performance

Take those three elements, and you can recreate any of those pics.

But, seriously, sparky is right. You should seek inspiration from others' styles, not try to copy.

It's one thing to say "hey, that's a cool technique, let's try it!"

Completely another to try to get the EXACT pic.

And looking at these pics, frankly they're not really so spectacular I say "Oh I want that in my portfolio!"

In quite a few shots I see white balance issues, focusing issues, or just in general composition issues.

For instance, take this one:

http://www.beautifoto.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/VaishaliDavid_best083.jpg

The colors are all off (whitebalance issue) and it looks like they used a wide angle lens so her face is distorted.

Seriously do you want to do this?!?!

You can see some nice technique on some of the photos... For instance if you look at the below shot you'll see a nice use of shadows. I like the texture created by the stripes of the fire escape

http://www.beautifoto.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/VaishaliDavid_best066.jpg

But if I were you I wouldn't want to create THIS shot, I'd go out and play with shadows. Take pictures of models with various shadows coming over them. See what you get.

But looking at some of the shots, I don't see anything special. For instance if you look at this shot, there's nothing special at all. It's just a normal shot, maybe with a speedlight, but really what is special?

http://www.beautifoto.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/VaishaliDavid_best122.jpg

Some stuff is just techniques you maybe need to learn. This is for instance an example of "light painting"

http://www.beautifoto.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/VaishaliDavid_best126.jpg

Also, this is an example of details extractor or similar filter to give the photos more texture:

http://www.beautifoto.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/VaishaliDavid_best121a.jpg

Google Nik's software's Color Efex... You can play with different filters and see the effects they have...

The key is to play a lot and then learn what different techniques do. Then you'll be able to look at a scene and say "wow, what if I do _______"

So, all in all, these photos are not special if you just have the equiptment, the know how, and a good place to shoot. Indeed, I bet there are some people on this forum who could do better...

You just need to try learning as much as you can (and unfortunately theres a lot to learn so it may take time). Just play around, experiment, and HAVE FUN.

Then at some point you'll start to see how to make some shots, and hopefully get to the point where you have your own style.

Good luck

 

[KmH]

1. With a lens with a large enough aperture so you can get some bokeh

Where it says 'bokeh' - substitute 'shallow depth-of-field' (DoF).
DoF is adjustable - in part by lens aperture choice.
Bokeh is not adjustable, and is an inherent property determined by lens design and construction.

Depth-of-field is more dependent on focus point distance, than lens aperture.

Lens focal length and background distance from your main subjects also play important roles in the DoF your images will have. Understanding Depth of Field in Photography

 

[Vautrin]

1. With a lens with a large enough aperture so you can get some bokeh

Where it says 'bokeh' - substitute 'shallow depth-of-field' (DoF).
DoF is adjustable - in part by lens aperture choice.
Bokeh is not adjustable, and is an inherent property determined by lens design and construction.

Depth-of-field is more dependent on focus point distance, than lens aperture.

Lens focal length and background distance from your main subjects also play important roles in the DoF your images will have. Understanding Depth of Field in Photography

Agreed, but didn't want to confuse a beginner with too much technical information at once

 

[thetrue]

1. With a lens with a large enough aperture so you can get some bokeh

Where it says 'bokeh' - substitute 'shallow depth-of-field' (DoF).
DoF is adjustable - in part by lens aperture choice.
Bokeh is not adjustable, and is an inherent property determined by lens design and construction.

Depth-of-field is more dependent on focus point distance, than lens aperture.

Lens focal length and background distance from your main subjects also play important roles in the DoF your images will have. Understanding Depth of Field in Photography

DOF Nazi lately, eh?

 

[emh]

By "feel of these photos", did you mean the altered colors? If so, looks like cross processing. There's a tutorial here.

 

[KmH]

DOF Nazi lately, eh?

"Even the easy things are tough if you do them half-assed"

 

[kemzo]

Hello all...! I like some of the Ambient mixed with Flash lighting on some of the pics, that might be difficult to achieve for a beginner... off camera flash, slow shutter speed, and some mid range iso will do the trick. maybe thats what he wants to know, not to copy them frame by frame and all the awkward poses.

 

[Sw1tchFX]

That is some of the worst color work i've ever seen...

 

[tevo]

That is some of the worst color work i've ever seen...

Thank you!

$4200 dollars for that? Not on my life.

 

[thunderkyss]

Vaishali and David engagement session | Beautifoto Blog

I really like the feel of these photos and would like to emulate this technique.
If you have any insights as to the shot set ups and post processing, please let me know.

You'd steal this guy's business if you were just a little more professional than him. Look at these three pictures.....
http://www.beautifoto.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/VaishaliDavid_best006.jpg
http://www.beautifoto.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/VaishaliDavid_best007.jpg

There is no reason why you shouldn't be able to get the colors of that second shot in the first & third. At the very least, he should have been able to bring the colors out in photoshop, or just about any basic photo editing software.

Some of these look really good, some look like missed opportunity....... like he took a bunch of shots on auto or P mode then just picked the best ones.
http://www.beautifoto.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/VaishaliDavid_best023.jpg

Here, the one on the right, the light looks well represented in the background, good colors, and the subjects look sharp, defined. The one on the left, the light looks distracting, loud, obnoxious & the subject looks fuzzy, lost, eh...

http://www.beautifoto.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/VaishaliDavid_best030.jpg

This one, I really like the composition, The perspective, the way the buildings make up the shot, the car headlights in the background..... this looks really nice. Lots of pictures here, most of them don't look "special"

However, to answer your question, you need to be able to see the shot. Whoever did this, did a fine job finding locations that look great for this sort of thing. So as you drive around your city, you need to take pictures of your favorite locations, take notes of what makes them work, sometimes the time of day at the location could make all the difference in the world. I'd also make note of the colors, what works with them, what don't..... I wouldn't get too involved with telling the customer what to wear, but that brown shirt wasn't doing anyone any favors.


disclaimer: I'm a new guy just dropping my 2 cents. I don't really know what I'm talking about.