A stupid question

Could someone that shoots portrait work tell me how to meter for strobes? I just picked up an inexpensive studio setup on ebay (2 strobes, softboxes, slave flash, etc), but I'm having problems w/overexposure. I use the model lights, but how do I set my camera to compensate for the flash? I know about flash comp, but don't really know how to use it. Do I need a flash light meter? Even w/the model lights on, it's still fairly dark in the room and my camera is giving me a long shutter speed and then overexposing.

Any help that someone could give would be great. Thx...

melanie

I'm no lighting expert, but are you shooting in Manual mode? That's the only way I've ever had much success with off camera lighting.

For extensive help, there are studio lighting forums on both FM and POTN where you could probably find all the info you'd ever want by doing a search in those forums.

Hi, 1st there is no such thing as a stupid question only stupid answers lol.
I have found it best to shoot in manual mode with the use of a flash meter.
If you go to https://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=studio+flash+photography&aq=f (Copy and Paste to your browser)
it may be of help.

Your long exposure doesn't affect the flash exposure. You need to be in manual or aperture priority. Aperture will affect your flash exposure. Shutter will affect anything lit by ambient light or in the background. You can use that to good effect.
A really fast shutter might cut off light from large, bright setting strobes that take a significant (1/1000) to produce their full output.
Are you syncing properly, and in front or rear curtain, or slow sync? Rear curtain for me most of the time.