troy7997 wrote:
Sorry I didn't include it before. I am using a Canon Digital Rebel with the kit lens (18mm-55mm). I am currently looking to upgrade to the Canon 28mm-135mm SI USM. I have heard a lot of great things about it from this forum.
The B&W is a neat trick I learned from from a digital imaging book. I open the photo in PhotoShop. Then I create a duplicate layer from the backround image. Then I remove all of the color on that layer. Then all you have to do is take the eraser and erase the areas that you want to show as color. It's a lot easier than it sounds and the result is brilliant color that you didn't really notice before.
Thanks for the camera info! I really don't know why thats so important to me other than I like to see what other models + photograhers can do so that I can mimic them! 
And your technique is close to mine.
Duplicate layer, go into Quickmask, Paintbrush the areas I want to keep the color in, exit Quickmask, use Color Mixer to uncheck Monochrome box and go B&W. I wonder what the pros do?