It's not all about the gear, but you will need some. Zack breaks down his gear for this adventure, what it cost, and why he chose it.

New York can be an accessible destination to do on a budget. There's always a lot to see and places to go.

Times Square is Zack's starting place of choice to get his head in the right space for shooting in New York.

When you give yourself an assignment for a project like this you need to define what it is that you are looking for before you head out to shoot.

As you seek out backgrounds, characters, and light you will need strategies for making contact and a whole lot of patience.

The city comes alive at night and there are still many opportunities for street portraits. You may want to bring along some additional light.

Day 2 of the project finds Zack shooting in and around Central Park.

Zack invested a portion of his budget to hire a photo editor to help him create a cohesive body of work from this project. An outside perspective from a professional photo editor can give you an objective opinion of your work.

Editing is a fluid process that can change based on other image choices that you make.

Sometimes your editing process can be improved by making a small print of each photo so that you can arrange them, hang them on the wall, pass them around, and experience your work in a physical way.

A portfolio should show a variety in the images, a visible connection between the photographer and the subjects, and a sense of the environment in which it all takes place.