Based on the comparisons in the answers, the look seems to come from a mix of capture and editing:

• slightly brighter exposure / mild overexposure
• more neutral white balance (less yellow cast)
• shallower depth of field, likely from a wider aperture or a longer focal length / greater camera distance
• possibly additional light from above or another direction

In post, the effect is largely a tonal adjustment: lower highlights, raise shadows and whites, keep blacks somewhat reduced but still present, and back off contrast a little. One answer got close by pulling highlights down strongly, lifting shadows and whites, lowering blacks moderately, and reducing contrast. Small color tweaks (especially yellow/orange) can also help.

So the “soft shadows but defined darks” look is essentially lifted shadow tones with preserved black point and controlled highlights. Shooting RAW will help because it gives more room to recover shadows and fine-tune exposure and white balance afterward.