Charles Reutlinger was the original founder of the Reutlinger Studios. Charles, of German descent, opened his studio in the fashionable Paris, 1850. This was the beginning of the famous Reutlinger Studios, which remained in operation until 1937.

Charles Reutlinger photographed many of the best-known artists, scientists, musicians, and writers of his time. His studio was elaborate, the inside lined with palm trees, tapestries, and a great variety of other valuable decorations which could be used as photographic props, as well as, maintain an upscale studio appearance.

Charles belonged to an elite group of photographers who had studios on the boulevards à.la.mode and whose photographs were featured in the most prestigious newspapers and magazines, including the first society of "La Illustration", a weekly journal that catered to the concerns of the upper echelon of society. Among these photographers were Gustave Gray, Eugene Disdéri, and the studio of Bertsch and Arnaud. He also became a member of The Society of French Photographers in 1862.

In 1880, Charles turned his studio over to his brother Emile, who turned the studios over to his son, Leopold Reutlinger. One year later, in 1881, Charles died in Paris.

Charles was awarded many credits during his life and Emile received few but neither accomplished the great acclaim Emile's young son, Leopold Reutlinger, would later achieve.

It was Charles and Emile Reutlinger who have been identified as the family members to have taken the early risqué photographs of performers in bodysuits, usually identified by a hand-printed Reutlinger with a series number. Although Emile's studio years were short, it is believed Emile and his young son, Leopold, reproduced many of these early photographs into postcards.