Known for their portrayal of the rich and famous, the Reutlinger Studio was the most notable studio of its' day. Drenched in the most lavish settings which included palm trees, tapestries, and a great variety of other valuable decorations, the fashionable Paris based studio was founded in 1850 by Charles Reutlinger, of German descent.

The founder, Charles Reutlinger, in 1862, was named a member of the "Society of French Photographers. He photographed many of the best-known artists, scientists, musicians and writers of his time. This elite group of photographers had studios on the boulevards à.la.mode, with photographs who 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.

In 1880, Charles became ill and decided to turn his studio over to his brother Emile. Prior to his death in 1881, Charles Reutlinger was awarded many credits during his life. His brother, Emile, ran the studio until 1890, with little credits to his name. In 1883, after only 3 years of running the Reutlinger Studios, Emile summoned his first-born son Leopold to Paris to begin working with his father in the family photography business.

Born in 1863, Leopold was raised in Callao, Peru. Anxious to make a name for himself, young Leopold jumped at the chance to work and live in Paris running the family photography business.

The Reutlingers had a well-established socialite clientele with a very elaborate studio. Young Reutlinger adapted quickly to the upper echelon of society photography that his uncle, Charles, had established many years before his arrival. Emile, Leopold's father, controlled the studio for only a short period of time before handing the business over to Leopold in 1890.

Léopold Reutlinger produced a vast number of images, ranging from portraits, performers, showgirls and theatre stars. He photographed for advertising purposes, as well as, for magazines and newspapers. By the early 1900's, Leopold Reutlinger had far surpassed his Uncle Charles accomplishments. The rich and famous held Leopold Reutlinger in the highest esteem, requesting him whenever a professional photograph was needed.

By the age of 30, Leopold Reutlinger was a man of great reputation. Now, wealthy, successful, and having the best of everything money could buy, Leopold could pick and choose photographic projects. He frequently held exhibitions of his work in the offices of the newspapers and magazines where he free-lanced his photography. Announcements of his works were published in the newspapers and magazines and, of course, all the socialites attended his showings.

To his credit, Reutlinger introduced a very distinctive style of merging photographic images with art nouveau fantasy overlays and exceptionally well-done hand tinting. The Reutlinger Studios became known for their unusual art nouveau postcard styles, quickly becoming the most sought-after photographer requested by the upper echelon of society. His works were not cheaply produced, nor were they cheaply sold.

Leopold Reutlinger had an inherited life. He did not struggle to establish his business, but he did work very hard to maintain the high standards of his forefathers and is highly accredited for the advance new styles in postcard design, all the while, photographing the most beautiful and famous people in the world. He continued in a very successful business until 1930, when he lost an eye in an accident with a champagne cork, forcing him into retirement, ending the reign of the Reutlinger Studios. He died March, 1937 at the age of 74.