model cleanly. only use built in radisioty meshing parameters. do not subdivide any object yourself (for the sake of your computer). use regather instead of Refine iterations for stills. refine iterations is mainly for animations.

Lighting is simple. You can make it complicated by using HDRI images to exactly match the light of a location. You need to buy a mirror ball and document the site with it. Plenty of tutorials on the net. start here.
http://www.cgtechniques.com/tutorials.php

i've been pretty successful using the standard photometric lights that come with max. just spend a couple of days messing with the different radiosoty solutions. the tutorial (max6) was pretty helpful getting me started

I’ve started to play around with plug-in's (brazil) but its very hard to learn and i don’t know anybody who could teach me which is the easiest way. but maybe you will have more luck

get good with mapping and creating your own textures. lighting is integral to a "photoreal" image, but mapping can cover your butt a lot easier than tweaking lighting for hours. become a photoshop wiz.

Use mental ray with final gather enabled. Study photographs for lighting qualities / intensities. Google tutorials and do lots of tests.

I am not a fan of Brazil - but Final Render stage 1 is pretty nice.

I usually model everything as accuratly as possible. Reveals and profiles create realistic shadowlines and make sure you use some good textures. Total Textures vol.6, 12 and 13 are worth the buy / download.

Also i'd stay away from radiosity. Stick with mental ray and GI. Radiosity takes too g'dammed long.