In addition to the factors mentioned above — min 16GB of RAM/32GB better (for your own good, accept no lesser substitutes), Intel i5/i7/AMD Ryzen 5/Apple M1 processor, lots of fast SSD storage space, fast USB 3.2 ports for quick connections to external storage and peripherals, etc. — I'd consider exactly where you're going to be using your system. Which will be a determining factor on whether you go big or small.
If you're constantly going to be doing your work away from your desk — at the library, in coffee shops, location shooting, etc. — you've got two things to consider: portability and screen size. If you weren't doing lots of photo retouching away from your desk, I'd strongly recommend small. Weight and size matter, especially when you consider that you're often going to be carrying a lot more kit like power supply/external storage/peripherals/cables in your kit. If you're doing lots of image work away from your desk, you may choose to bear the burden of a larger screen so you can better see what you're doing.
But whether you get a big, heavier laptop or a smaller lightweight model, I can't recommend enough that you should include an external high-resolution/large-screen monitor, keyboard and mouse for your desktop work. The fastest way to turn young, sharp eyes into tired, poorer ones is to constantly do all your exacting work hunched over your laptop peering into a small display screen. You'll do much better work — and save yourself from abusing your eyes, neck, back, arms and hands — by working with a large monitor and standard keyboard at your desk as much as possible.
This gives you the best of both worlds: a powerful and comfortable "desktop" powered by your new laptop, which can be quickly unplugged and used for road work whenever you choose. You want that.
Good luck, and welcome to the design biz. Hope this is the start of a fulfilling and rewarding journey for you.
Randy
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