What purpose does a flash bracket on a camera serve?

I'm interested in shooting some weddings and I often see event photographers with flash brackets on their cameras. But I don't understand what they are for, exactly.What purpose does a flash bracket on a camera serve?
Two main purposes (Fhotoace only got 1 of them).





The first purpose is actually to keep the flash in a vertical alignment with the lens, whether the camera is in a landscape (horizontal) position or a portrait (camera turned sideways) position. By keeping the flash centered and vertical over the lens, it throws the shadows from the flash behind the person and lower down where the can't be seen as easily. Also, a high flash position is more likely to be pleasing lighting, than flash closer to the lens.





One of the marks of an amateur is the annoying side-shadow, which is why pros will use a bracket and keep the flash centered high over the lens.





The other purpose is ostensibly to prevent red eye, although a hotshoe flash is usually far enough away from the lens to prevent red eye in a typical room just from being in the hotshoe. A flash in a bracket also moves it a little further away from the lens and helps to prevent red-eye at longer distances, which you might see in a church for example (i.e. larger than a typical room, where the photographer is further back).What purpose does a flash bracket on a camera serve?
A flash bracket gets the flash off the camera and higher above the axis of the lens. It also provides a secure ';handle'; for holding the camera. Plus, IMO, it looks more ';professional'; than having a the flash sitting on top of the camera.





I've been using a flash bracket since 1976.
they make the range of the flash further. usual range in most point and shoots are like 10ft, witha flash mounted on the bracket u can get double that if not more. plus many mountable flashed have their own batteries, so they dont drain the battery from the camera itself, and can refresh faster, shoot faster
1. to physically hold the flash unit.





2. to have an electrical connection to send the ';flash now'; signal to the flash device when you press the shutter button.





is this what you are asking?


some in-depth explanation here


http://www.digicamhelp.com/accessories/e鈥?/a>
It moves the external flash up and away from the axis of the lens, preventing ';redeye';
helps prevent redeye and harsh shadows