My first real successes have been benjaminas. They aren't as great for bonsai as some other ficus, but I think they get a bad rap.
Reasons they're bad:
Bulbous tuberous roots that can be difficult to make good nebari out of.
Apically dominant growth habit.
Don't always backbud reliably, at least not always where you expected.
Springy wood that doesn't always stay put when you take the wire off.
Bark will never look better than it does right now.
Can swell at cut sites making inverse taper.
Will ALWAYS lead to a mediocre tree, no matter how long you work it.
Reasons they're great:
Beautiful foliage.
So easy it's almost cheating.
All the bad things can easily be worked with or mitigated once you get to know the tree.
Springy wood that you can bend even when gets thicker.
The bark heals over very smooth and very fast, so very little scarring.
Bulletproof! No need for cut paste. They heal themselves just fine.
Will ALWAYS lead to a mediocre tree, and fast too.
You're not likely to place at any shows, but they're loads of fun year round.
Put some curves in the trunk with some guy wires. This and weights I've found work well with the springy wood.
Don't just chop it and expect it grow back like an elm or maple. They back bud more happily with minor pruning than with big chops. Always leave some foliage and that branch will survive, though a branch will usually die back from the cut a little. Leave just a tad bit of space for that to avoid the swelling at at cuts, then cut out the dead but later.
They will always try to smooth out whatever lines you put in them, making good results from cut and grow techniques.
You'll notice that they always produce 2 buds at a time from a node. One is a new leaf, the other a new branch. Leave the leaf until the branch gets going.
Needs a trim and moss replaced, but this is only a year's worth of work.
Just go nuts in it, and see where it takes you. Pick a too thick branch, cut it just