A mug shot or mugshot is a photographic portrait of a person from the shoulders up, typically taken after a person is arrested. The primary purpose of the mug shot is to allow law enforcement to have a photographic record of an arrested individual to allow for identification by victims, the public and investigators. However, in the United States, entrepreneurs have recently begun to monetize these public records via the mug shot publishing industry.
1947 mugshot of crime boss Whitey Bulger
Self-portrait mug shot of Alphonse Bertillon, who developed and standardized this type of photograph, 22 August 1900
FBI wanted poster with a mug shot of Alcatraz escapee John Anglin
Camera used for taking mug shots at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, California, US
Portrait photography, or portraiture, is a type of photography aimed toward capturing the personality of a person or group of people by using effective lighting, backdrops, and poses. A portrait photograph may be artistic or clinical. Frequently, portraits are commissioned for special occasions, such as weddings, school events, or commercial purposes. Portraits can serve many purposes, ranging from usage on a personal web site to display in the lobby of a business.
Edward S. Curtis, self-portrait.
Portrait of a girl in costume in the natural environment of a gothic festival.
In the 19th century and early 20th century, photographs did not often depict smiling people in accordance to cultural conventions of Victorian and Edwardian culture. In contrast, the photograph Eating Rice, China depicts a smiling Chinese man.
Low-key portrait.
