I rendered in Poser Pro, though I still have issues with Pro. The lights are a set of HDRI lights I'm developing for sale in the RMP. I'm using bagginsbill's VSS shader system for all my demo and test images. I have face_off's Realism, but it is light dependant. In other words, you have to set it up in regards to each light setting you use. VSS on the other hand gives consistantly beautiful results without having re-run the script with every light change. Bagginsbill is also so right about the use of material based AO.  Using it on things such as hair and clothing gives things so much more depth. Adding material AO to hair will increase render time, but I think it's worth the wait.

"A lonely climber walks a tightrope to where dreams are born and never die!" - Billy Thorpe, song: Edge of Madness, album: East of Eden's Gate

Weapons of choice:

Poser Pro 2012, SR2, Paintshop Pro 8