I went from this plain wireframe starting point:
Added some skin, morphed the face and body, added hair, Image Based Lighting (for the first time which seems to make a HUGE difference), eyes, and some deplacement maps.
To get this:
It's really the first time I have been able to get this level of realism for over a year now. I think I'm starting to get the hang of it. Now to make some amazon, exotic beauty to possibly go along with some fantasy landscape renders (with Bryce 6 from RaiderNexx?)...WHOOOO!!! The possibilities are endless!