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The one reason most professional photographers are NOT self-taught is because eventually the frustration of making mistakes under the pressure of shooting for a client gets to be too much.
As a pro, we are not only expected to produce images on demand, but know when film is necessary vs. digital ... large format vs. medium or 35mm ... colour neg vs. transparency.
In school all that an much more is explained and becomes part of your knowledge and skill sets.
Nothing comes across as more unprofessional as a "so called" pro not knowing how to use their equipment and how to provide the most appropriate image type for the client. Guessing is not an option when portraying oneself as a pro.
By the time you finish school, you will know which lens is necessary for what subjects. Example: When I have a sports assignment, I do not carry lenses I don't or won't need. I have over 10 specialized lenses .. each with their own specific properties. This is but one of the many bits of knowledge a pro is expected to know ... as well as their own names.
To learn all this without school you may want to become an assistant to a successful pro and learn from him/her. Do that for about five years and you will be in good shape ... not as formal as a school, but probably good enough to be a pro
For really good technical information, try this link:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech.htm
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