As a child, Charles REUTLINGER was fan of drawing portraits. He discovered photography early, in 1839 and set up in Stuttgart as a daguerreotype photographer, and then moved to Paris in 1850. In Paris, 33 boulevard Saint-Germain, he created his first photographic studio specialized in personnalities' portraits. Most of his models were women, especially actress and dancers. He was a member of the Société française de photographie and got the first prize at the 1867 World's fair. Charles REUTLINGER retired from his business in 1880 and entrusted his brother Emile with the studio. In 1893, Leopold-Emile REUTLINGER became the leader of the flourishing family business. Mata-Mari, Cléo de Mérode, Liane de Pougy, La Belle Otero, Emilienne d'Alençon, are some of their more prestigious models.