Photography is an art. Whether taken with an expensive camera with a dozen lenses or your phone's built in camera that occasionally crashes, each picture can tell a story. It's an art... as long as the camera is facing forward. Once turned around, it's viewed as an obsession.

Conceited.

Insecure.

Attention seeking.

These words have been used to describe the art of taking pictures of yourself, or as it's most commonly known by society (now including the Merriam Webster dictionary): a 'seflie.' Over the past few years, this term has taken over the internet, specifically social media sites. Instead of just being known as another picture, it quickly took on a negative connotation. Hilarious "rules" started being made about the number of selfies people were allowed to post in a row on their social media sites. Because God FORBID you post two pictures of yourself in a row, let alone in the SAME DAY. Might as well delete your account now.

When did it become selfish to love yourself?

Seeing someone take a selfie is one of my favorite things in the world. Whether it's with a neat coy smile on their face or the double chins and silly faces making an appearance, seeing someone's face when they're happy with themselves is something that shouldn't be taken away or punished. I'm not ashamed to say that if you look through my phone, you will come across a row or two here and there of my lovely face. Some complete with lipstick and winged eyeliner so sharp it could slice through thin air, others that sometimes have me questioning my existence as a human being. Either way, it's refreshing to get to know yourself.

Society has drilled it into our minds that it's not attractive to hate ourselves, but it's tacky to love ourselves too much. And quite frankly, we shouldn't give a damn what society thinks. Life's too short for that.

So go on. Be obsessed with yourself. Love your natural self. Love the way you sound. Love the way you are. Make memories both behind and in front of the camera. Strike a pose, wear that outfit that's been hanging in the back of your closet for months because you haven't found an appropriate function to wear it to.

Smile. Fall in love with every inch of yourself- don't wait around for someone else to do it for you. Understand everyone has flaws, yourself included. Learn to love them because you're not complete without them.

So go on. Turn that camera around and do not be ashamed to capture the beautiful work of art that you are.

And while you're at it, you can go tell society to go kiss your lens.