In return for my expertise you would be expected to tote equipment, provide a human element, or hold reflectors, etc. While it is possible to learn photography with any camera that provides full manual control, most camera types have drawbacks for the beginner. While nothing is set in stone, I seriously recommend you get a 35mm Single Lens Reflex camera. Film and processing are relatively cheap in this format. Learning involves using a lot of film.
Larger sizes are significantly more expensive.
You could just as easily use a rangefinder camera for most of the learning process, but again there are limitations that are very easily elided with a reflex. Digital cameras are, at this writing very expensive. There are a few advantages to using them, and a few dis-advantages. If you have one that allows full manual control it will most certainly do the job. You need not agree with anything I say.