Right now I'm using iPhoto and once I get a new camera I'll switch to something like Aperature or Lightroom. In the mean time, I'd like to ask for some opinions on favorite cameras...
You have it backwards. Most beginners do. You are not buying a "camera". You are buying into a system of bodies and lenses and flashes and such. In fact when you look at the cost, most of what you spend will be on lenses. The lens may last through multiple SLR body upgrades.
So look which company has the products you might want in 1, 2 or 5 years. Think about the used marget too. Many good deal there and you will be selling the old SLR bodies as you upgrade.
IN the old days of film it was different, you'd buy an SLR body and keep it for 15 years. To day no one on Earth wants a 15 year old dSLR body but lenses Nikon Lenses for the 1970's are still in demand.
My advice is to pick a brand (Nikon and Canon are the more conservative choices) then pick a lens or two. then buy which ever SLR body fits your remaining budget.
you should know that a 50mm f/1.8 prime lens will make a different image them a 18-50 kit zoom lens and you WILL see the difference in the final print. But a $300 used dSLR body and a $6,000 body will not make much of a difference in the final result
besure to PLAN AHEAD. For example in the Nikon line some bodies have built-in focus motors, some don't. Some lenses lack motors and need the one in the body. This matters if you plan to buy used Nikon gear. Canon gear is more uniform but the pre EOS canon sti=uff just does not work at all with new EOS. Then compnaies like Sony, who knows if they will even make SLRs in 10 years. They might be a dead end. So think about the next 5 or so years because you are buying into a systemand it is expensive to change systems