soft pictures?

[humanputting]

http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/0dbe87d554.jpg

hey guys i was just wondering if someone could explain to me how i would be able to take a soft image like this one. is it a special type of lens? or should i open the aperature more? or is this actually done in photoshop? ive tried to google it but came up with nothing. thanks for the help. im using a rebel xsi and i have at my disposal the kit lens 1.8 50mm and 75-300mm 4.5 telephoto.

[Mike]

Hi, it was shot with a 50mm lens at f/1.8 on a Nikon D200. So, no special lens - you have similar.
I would guess that it is photoshop technique as the photo looks sharp around the eyes.

A quick Google of "Soft focus photoshop technique" turns up plenty of tutorials:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=soft+focus+photoshop+technique&sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1B3GGGL_enGB258GB258

PS, you are probably unaware but as the above image is not your own it is forum rules that you link to it as opposed to post the image. :)