How to achieve this look?

[Dude With Camera]

I'm not 100% sure if this a PP technique, but this photographer, Carl Zoch just has this look to all his photos and I LOVE it. His photos have a slightly washed out look to them and I'm wondering if this certain style has a name and how it could possibly be achieved. If it is PP, would it mostly be dropping down the saturation and adding some coolness or warmth to the shot? Help me solve the mystery! Thank you.

-DWC

[zona5101]

I'd say lowered saturation maybe...or maybe just a white balance shift..or a little of both... but the big thing that makes these spectacular (and I do think they are!) is he has GREAT LIGHT!

[Dude With Camera]

Originally Posted by zona5101

I'd say lowered saturation maybe...or maybe just a white balance shift..or a little of both... but the big thing that makes these spectacular (and I do think they are!) is he has GREAT LIGHT!

I absolutely agree that his lighting is great. No amount of PP will make up for poor lighting, but obviously there is something more to it. Thanks for the input.

[tonyniev]

Lighting, good sharp lens and wide aperture for bokieh effects

[teaking]

Maybe a duplicated layer set to overlay which has been desaturated but still retains some colour, fine tuning the effect with the opacity slider and also aplying curves to the overlay layer could get you close?

[Dude With Camera]

Originally Posted by tonyniev

Lighting, good sharp lens and wide aperture for bokieh effects

Aside from the lighting, the sharp lens and aperture wouldn't affect the colors though...

[OsmosisStudios]

Its a bit more than that, but thats the basics of it. Those are some exceptional portraits.

Have you tried asking the photographer directly?

[Dude With Camera]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Its a bit more than that, but thats the basics of it. Those are some exceptional portraits.

Have you tried asking the photographer directly?

That was my next move. I just wasn't sure the protocol on that being his business relies on his technique. You think I should just ask? I have nothing to lose I suppose.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Dude With Camera

That was my next move. I just wasn't sure the protocol on that being his business relies on his technique. You think I should just ask? I have nothing to lose I suppose.

It's unorthodox, but it's worked in the past.

[mandyatm]

It looks like he may have applied a slight vintage treatment to them. You can get an action from www.coffeeteaphotography.blogspot.com. You can probably achieve it yourself by adding a couple of tinted layers, maybe a brown and blue. Just a guess though.