I am all about face to face meetings – I just don’t think you get the same experience online. Having said that, however, it’s a great deal easier these days to find a local practitioner by doing an online search than it is to search through the yellow pages or the local newspapers.
Many teachers and practitioners have videos on their websites that you can watch to get an idea of whether or not you like them and whether or not you like what they do. Most search engines can give you local results to where you are if you type in your area as well as what you’re searching for.
On the other hand, if there are few people who do what you want to learn, the online or home study option can be a positive one as a start. Bear in mind, however, that home study isn’t the same as being in a class with other people.
As you progress, you’ll probably want to interact more with people who have learned similar things to you, are on a similar journey or who simply share the same interests.