LOAD_FILE(file_name): Reads the file and returns the file contents as a string : LOAD_FILE « String Functions « MySQL Tutorial

1. MySQL Tutorial
2. String Functions
3. LOAD_FILE

The file size must be less than max_allowed_packet bytes.

If the file does not exist or cannot be read, the function returns NULL.

UPDATE myTable SET text_col=LOAD_FILE('/tmp/picture');