[Songman45]

First of all, If I were you i'd have the negs scanned and make myself what ever I wanted to. Isn't it just plum stupid that a photographer could hand over the negatives, thus make it impossible to fulfill any future prints AND at the same time claim reproduction rights? One would think if there was a question of infringement it would have come five years ago when the wall prints were being made. Didn't the photographer point you to a lab for the print work anyway?

I don't think the question here is wheter or not it's "okay" to proceed with your project but the best way to go about it. Best advice I've seen is the pro lab drum scanner. You can then work up the images and if you don't like your results, certainly get some help. Its not like you are going to loose the original file data after the pictures are digitized.

I wish you well and hope you soon have an album to cherish your memories with.

Steve