Photography business registered as auto-entrepreneur - best option?

I’m a professional photographer and would like to start a photography business in France doing family portraits, weddings, selling articles and photos to magazines worldwide and selling fine art prints in galleries in Paris and around the world.  Also bearing in mind that this will be seen as a part time job in my spare time as I’m a mother and photography jobs usually do not come in on a daily basis.

1. In order to do all of the above is an auto-entrepeneur business the best option for me whilst living in France (long term we hope)
2. How long does registration take, weeks or months and can I start working whilst waiting for registration to be completed?
3. In another thread on your site you mentioned “artisan” would be the option if you sell prints so do you register as an artisan at the same time you would register your business?
4. I don’t have a social security nr. We are here for my husband’s work and our medical aid etc. is all on his social security number.  Do I need my own social security nr before I can start with registration and if so, how do I do this?  I have a 10yr carte de sejour stating VT Totale.
5. Once registered and all is in place, do I pay social contributions monthly or annually?
6. What is taxe professionale and will this apply to my type of business and if so, what is the percentage?
7. I’ve been reading up on this topic but could you please explain to me what is a Siret number and what do they classify as service prestations?