Police mugshot of Patty Hearst taken at the San Mateo County Jail, September 18, 1975. A mug shot or mugshot (an informal term for police photograph or booking photograph) is a photographic portrait of a person from the shoulders up, typically taken after a person is arrested. [1] [2] The original purpose of the mug shot was to allow law. See more of New Mexico Mugshots on Facebook. Log In. or.