After studying photography at Los Angeles City College and Art Center, he took a job as a photo assistant at a studio in Hollywood, eventually becoming studio manager. In 1986 Crise started his own photography business, and today his clients include several class one railroads. He also volunteers with the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society, which operates the Santa Fe 3751 steam locomotive. Crise’s commercial railroad stock images are available at transtock.com, and his other commercial (non-railroad) work is at his web site, scrise.com.