I'm currently building a website, using Essential Web 4, and have not published or uploaded my website through my webhost.I want to get it built before I do this. I have installed PHP 5.3.8 on my computer successfully but this is where I'm stumped. don't know what to do next to get Zenphoto up and running. Is this even possible to do???

Expression Web 4 is the software, not essential. Sorry

Zenphoto is a stand-alone WEB application. How you would have it interact with other WEB software will be very dependent on that software. I know nothing of Expression Web 4, so cannot offer specific advice. Perhaps the following will help, though http://www.zenphoto.org/news/can-i-integrate-zenphoto-with-wordpress-or-another-cms-

Thanks for the quick response.

If you want to setup a server locally I recommend to use one of the WAMP, LAMP or MAMP packages (depending on what system you are) for local servers. It can't be easier that that and we uses these as well.