“I really really want you to take my portraits .. I’m terminally ill . I’d like your images of me to be what people remember me by”
Award winning photographer, Toyin Shokefun-Bello (TY Bello), took to her social media platforms to mourn Olanike Disu, the Tax Amazon, who died last Monday, 3 September, 2017.
The tribute is published below:
I remember meeting her many weeks ago ..she walked up to me and asked if I was TY Bello.. the photographer ..”I’ve been looking for you ” she said.. She pulled me in .. looked straight into my eyes and said ‘ I really really want you to take my portraits .. I’m terminally ill . I’d like your images of me to be what people remember me by ..’ I want the photos to be happy and very beautiful I froze.. and tried to pretend like what she just said didn’t knock all the air out of Me..but she never stopped smiling .. ‘ when do we take these photos Ty?..she had said something so heavy .. so profound and I didn’t know how to react .
We exchanged numbers and she sent me a message soon after ..but I still didn’t know how to take it in..until one morning ..I was praying and reading Isaiah 61:The spirit of the lord is upon me .. anointed me ..to bring beauty for ashes .. the oil of joy for mourning .. then I heard .. “call Mrs Disu. ”
I did .. and I gifted her a portrait session for a few days later ..
She came in a little quiet at first but I saw her spirit lift as the hair and makeup started to come together .. “TY!! I look beeeeautiful.. ” that was how a most amazing day began with this beautiful woman with very deep dimples ..we had a blast!! .. singing .. dancing .. playing dress up with her daughter .. Belly laughs ..we had an incredible session . At some point in the middle of the shoot .. as we changed outfits ..she looked excitedly at me and said .. TY .. you know what? IM GOING TO BEAT THIS THING! .. I looked at her and responded .. ‘that’s the spirit .. you absolutely will!!’She gave me a High five and we continued one of my most exciting shoots till date . She ended the day by saying a heartfelt prayer for me . I remember telling someone her shoot was Gods gift to me .. she brought it all to me .. beauty in the purest form and the oil of Joy in Isaiah 61..I was so inspired and lifted .. it also helped me put what I do into proper perspective .. that its really not about me and my gift .. that the people I get to meet ,bond with and photograph are Gods gift to me .
Mrs Disu sent me prayers .. bible verses and inspiring write-ups every day after taking her photographs .. she also sent a beautiful thank you note when she got her photos .. and found time to send gifts to the beauty squad she met at the shoot .
It was her birthday last sunday .. her daughter told me she was so happy .. she also did something really strange .. she kept sending her portraits to every one she knew .. “she was up till the wee hours of the next morning sending out the photos .. and laughing .. we kept teasing her about it but she wouldn’t stop” . She died later on that day .. I guess it was her way of saying goodbye .
I remember @freezeedah sending me news of her passing .. I was a mess .. I was shocked ..and disappointed ..she was meant to beat this .. she had changed the narrative ..she told me herself .. !
I didn’t understand it .. until I got to spend a few hours with her children two days ago . They described what her last days were like .. she way joyful.. peaceful .. she found her own way to say goodbye .. she was ready .
As I sat in her Wake keeping today and listened to person after person come out and testify about her beautiful spirit and how she lived everyday to the fullest .. I also remember certain things she said to me during the shoot .. how she wanted her children to know she gave it EVERYTHING and did her very best .
It occurred to me .. she was right .. she did ‘beat this thing ‘ .. !she didn’t let it stop her from living .. till she took her last breath ..she lived and loved and laughed and smiled till the very end !! She was ready ..She was prepared .. unfortunately most people don’t get that opportunity .. to prepare for eternity .. and say goodbye .
It got me thinking .. if we all lived 100 years more .. it still would go by really fast .. the Bible says our lives are live vapor.. eternity is certain and every day is one day closer to when we meet our maker .. but are we ready .. that’s the question .
Goodbye Mrs Disu meeting you was wonderful .#LIFE
#makeup by @ravishinmakeup #hair by @hairwearenig and @bernardsmiless .. thank you guys for this beautiful gift to her.