Best thing for anyone who doesn't know much about photography and camera basics is to read books, how the camera works, equipment, investments etc. The books can help you decide whether you need to do a course in photography. Regular scanning of books and magazines also gives you a fair idea about the different techniques, lighting, angles, and topics. A basic course in photography, where they teach you how to develop b/w photos, history and other basic stuff, can be a useful experience. It will also help you decide the kind of specialised photography you want to pursue. Unfortunately, there are not many institutes that offer photography as a full-fledged course or career option. You can take up photography after your 12th or graduation. There are many students who learn photography along with their college, doing a part-time course.