Could you use the Canon XSi to start photography business!

XSi will not cut it. Minimum requirement of a 1Ds mark III LOL.

Good god, I love these posts.

I started out 3 or 4 years ago (i've lost track) with a Sony Mavica, I forget which model...5mp that's all I remember. Well it was a piece of crap and broke, thank god for the warranty from Best Buy, so I got the Powershot G6...it was fine for portraits, not the best for weddings. I started out working for bands and stuff, and only used it for 1 wedding! I upgraded to the G7 about a year later, and it was freakin awesome! Every picture on my website, except 1, was taken with the G7. Just last week, I broke down and went DSLR.

I have the XSI. I FREAKIN' LOVE IT!!!! I was super happy with the G7, but I figured it was time for a serious upgrade. When you're first learning, I suggest shooting everything in AUTO mode, just to get a feel for zooming with the lenses and not with a little button on the camera. After that, start fooling around with the other modes until you figure out enough to go full manual. I'm not quite at manual yet, only because I'm too paranoid to trust myself. I shoot in Program mode, with portrait picture style selected, for now that is. The great thing about the G series (I'm not sure about the other powershot models) was it was DSLR-like. You couldn't really change the lenses (except for the various attachments), but you could change the aperture and shutter speed in the manual mode of those cameras.

You will not be disappointed with the XSi, I promise. If you are, I'll buy it from you! If you read my signature, it says it all. It's not the camera you use, it's how you use it. If you have a good eye for what looks good, and can capture that with a point and shoot, a DSLR will only make you more educated and better at your craft.

Good luck!!