Hi Nicole,
If you're thinking of astroimaging in the not too distant future. i'd probably get a HEQ5 equatorial mount with an 8" (f/5) reflector, they are packaged at around $1599. That will allow you to do deep sky photography as well as planetary, and you haven't 'wasted' your money on a dob as well.
Or if you were after a dob first, i'd probably get a 10" - 12" although they are starting to get big!
Good luck
Rusty