Manny Crisostomo began his career at the Pacific Daily News in Guam, first as an intern reporter, and then as a photo lab technician. After earning a degree in photojournalism from the University of Missouri, he began working for the Detroit Free Press in 1982. He has won many awards, including those from The Associated Press and United Press International, and the Robert F. Kennedy Award for his work "Too Young to Die." He was named the Michigan Photographer of the Year in 1987 and 1988. Most notably, he won the 1989 Pulitzer Prize award for "A Class Act," a body of photographic work which depicted life in a Detroit inner-city high school.

Crisostomo's work has appeared in Life, Newsweek, People and other national publications. He has published three books: Mainstreet: SmallTown Michigan; Moving Pictures: A Look at Detroit from High Atop the People Mover; and Legacy of Guam: I Kustumbren Chamoru. Manny returned to Guam to live with his family and friends. While back in his home land he founded and edited Latte magazine, operated an art gallery, and covered the Asian continent for numerous international publications.

He has recently returned to California where he now lives and works.