Yes, it's very easy. Are you already using some kind of photo editing software to resize and crop your pictures? If so, that will almost certainly include an option somewhere, probably labelled "desaturate".

Once you've done that, the photo probably won't look that great. Find "brightness/contrast", and that will give you a couple of sliders. You'll want to increase the contrast quite a bit and maybe fiddle with the brightness too. Most software will show you the difference while you're doing it. If there's a "preview" box, make sure it's checked.

If you don't have any software installed, you probably have some on a CD that came with your camera. There's also a lot of free options online which will be fine for basic stuff.

there are plenty of free tools to download, google will find you plenty, if your willing to spend time playing, gimp is one of the best tools you can get, and its free  http://www.gimp.org/

there are also some tools online, as to the quality of the results i have no idea

Hi Lucy

You will probably find that there is an option to take black and white pictures on your camera.

If you need specific advice, drop me a line

Andy

Ooooh too techie for me!!!

get adobe photoshop 7 now cheap on ebay and just greyscale them takes all of 30 seconds

I got bored with pro pics and now take my own photos (with a bit of help from some clients) and am not techy at all - I use Picasa to resize and edit them - it is completely idiot proof and to make a picture BW you just click a button - it is also easy tofiddle with contrast, fill light and so on. I wouldn't recommend setting your camera to take them in black and white just because there may be bits you can use in colour and you lose versatility.

I have heard the odd moan about black and white pictures but I like mine and think a mixture really works!

I luv your pics Amy. Sometimes a black & white photo can look really good.

xx