Hi Jay, and Welcome!
Astronomy is the most mind expanding and exciting hobbies that i think you could ever get into. I'm still a newbie myself, and for the next 20+ years i guess i will still be a newbie, that's the joys of the universe you'll never know everything
Telescopes, all have their pro's and con's and I don't want to sound like a downer but as soon as you bring astrophotography into the mix you need some very deep pockets, although in saying that I have seen some nice images produced with entry level gear, hacked webcams and home made mounts!
A Dobsonian would be a good starting point you can get 8 inch dob's for about $600, or you could invest in a goto dob like this one
http://http://www.bintel.com.au/Tele...oductview.aspx
Some questions you also want to ask yourself before buying a telescope.
1. Am I in a light polluted area? Will I need to transport it to darker skies? Is the telescope transportable, and easy to setup with one person?
2. What do I want to see? Planets? Binary Stars?
3. What kind of Photography, Planets, Nebulae, star clusters, galaxies, stars or all of them?
4. Do I want to do more visual or more photography? or a mixture of both?
5. How much am I willing to spend
Some of these questions are hard to answer, but be 100% honest with yourself and the answers will help make the decision for you
In saying all that I completely agree with Andrew, try and get to a Star Party, or join an Astronomy group, if you have facebook, search for groups in you area, have a look through some telescopes to get a "Feel" for what others use. Make sure you ask as many questions as you can, even write them down and rattle them off like a machine gun. This forum is fantastic for information, with so many helpful people more than willing to give advice, we were all beginners at one stage!.
Have a look at other new members posts in the beginners section, you will find a wealth of information about choosing the right telescope.
Good Luck and Clear Skies
James