Some guidance needed..

[HDNitehawk]

I still stick by the first advice I gave you. Go to College.
It is easy to say pick a carrier that makes money first, but if work is a grind it is harder to succeed. Over the years I have enjoyed my carrier path, it is what I choose to do 32 years ago. It is not as fun as it once was, but it still has its moments.
Pick a carrier that you can be passionate about and in the end you will be a success. You only have one life to live; to some life is about money but looking back now some of the best times in my life were those when I had nothing.

If you really want to go in to photography there are other options other than opening a shop and doing portraits. Contact a university and see what opportunities there would be. Obviously since you can get a degree in photography, teaching could be one. I am sure there are many more.

Here is a local school that is highly respected:

http://www.okcu.edu/petree/visualarts/#