Dutch photographer Gerard De Haan has a muse. His name is Robert van Ravens and he naturally landed the cover of Gerard’s self-published book of photography. We wanted all the details about this 35-year-old blue-eyed sinewy beauty.

Where did you meet Robert?
We met through a mutual friend who’s a photographer. I saw his pics and his eyes moved me. I thought it would be interesting to photograph him in my own way.

What does he do for a living?
He’s a massage therapist and works in several beauty salons here in Amsterdam. He does sport massage, holistic, hot stone, aqama and kayotima shiatsu massage. He can combine all that with foot reflexology, facial treatments, and reiki. Occasionally he does chair massage in offices.

He has such a great body. What’s his secret?
His father is a sports instructor and runs a school of judo and jiu-jitsu. Robert looks a lot like him, so he probably has to thank the good genes too. As a kid his favorite sport was gymnastics, which he practiced fanatically for almost 10 years. That’s how he built the body he has now. He also studied theatre and dance at the Art Academy in Amsterdam, and spent some time in India to train as a yoga teacher.

How does he stay in shape?
He goes to the gym twice a week and at least once a week to a yoga class. Of course, his job is very physical as well. That and eating healthy, dancing and being a very happy man!

How did he become your muse? Why him?
We clicked the first time we met. There was chemistry, naturalness, energy, openness and humor. He inspired me. He has the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen, and even people who normally don’t like tattoos like his.

For more details about the book, you can contact Gerard through his website. The portraits of Robert are in the gallery below, along with a duo shot with another Dutch model named Jermaine.

Gerard de Haan
Robert van Ravens