That 128 Pixel Samples translates into 16,384 runs through the rendering process.  For a quick and dirty test I use 4 and for final around 16.  As far as lights try setting up one of the Startup scenes Mondello beach or Wild Street.  They have a single IBL light over head to provide lighting for working on the scene which does not render in final.  So basically you can now do scenes just using the surrounding HDRI image and have no lights.  You probably will want to add lights to get the effect you want much like Hollywood does in making a movie.  But without those lights it is like you taking your camera and taking a picture.

Also you should use the Progressive Mode to render as it has been found to render faster then the old bucket system.  That shocked me the first time I ran a default render and did not see the little buckets.

Poser 5, 6, 7, 8, Poser Pro 9 (2012), 10 (2014), 11, 12, 13