Software for Architectural Visualization

What software combination do you recommend for someone starting in architectural visualization? I'm seeing conflicting advice online.

The most common setup I see is 3ds Max with Corona Renderer or V-Ray, plus Photoshop for post-processing. This combination is industry standard and will get you hired at most studios.

I've been in the industry for 12 years and have used various software combinations. The 3ds Max + Corona/V-Ray + Photoshop workflow is definitely the gold standard. Some studios also use Lumion for quick animations. The key is mastering the fundamentals of modeling, texturing, lighting, and composition regardless of the specific software. If you're looking for positions that specify these skills, https://cgaward.com.ua/work.html has job listings that detail exactly what software requirements different studios have, which can help guide your learning path.