diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index a32ef5e..37e6f92 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ data
 *.old
 .DS_Store
 
+# User configuration files
+user-config.yml
+
 # Generated genesis files (created by generate-genesis.sh)
 config.yaml
 validators.yaml
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3b2916a..70ecd54 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -70,6 +70,44 @@ NETWORK_DIR=local-devnet ./spin-node.sh --node zeam_0 --generateGenesis --popupT
 NETWORK_DIR=local-devnet ./spin-node.sh --node all --generateGenesis --metrics
 ```
 
+### Using custom Docker images
+
+You can override default Docker images using the `--config-file` flag. This is useful for testing custom builds or using specific versions without modifying the codebase.
+
+**Basic usage (without custom images):**
+```sh
+# Uses default images from client-cmds/default-client-config.yml
+NETWORK_DIR=local-devnet ./spin-node.sh --node all --generateGenesis
+```
+
+**With custom config file:**
+```sh
+# Override specific client images
+NETWORK_DIR=local-devnet ./spin-node.sh --node all --generateGenesis --config-file user-config.yml
+```
+
+**Example config file (user-config.yml):**
+```yaml
+clients:
+  - name: zeam
+    image: blockblaz/zeam:feature-branch
+  - name: ream
+    image: ghcr.io/reamlabs/ream:v2.0
+```
+
+**Testing a specific client build:**
+```sh
+# Create custom config file for zeam <your-PATH>/my-zeam-config.yml
+clients:
+  - name: zeam
+    image: blockblaz/zeam:custom-tag
+
+# Run with custom zeam image
+NETWORK_DIR=local-devnet ./spin-node.sh --node zeam_0 --config-file <your-PATH>/my-zeam-config.yml
+```
+
+Only specify clients you want to override - others will use their defaults from `client-cmds/default-client-config.yml`.
+
 ## Args
 
 1. `NETWORK_DIR` is an env to specify the network directory. Should have a `genesis` directory with genesis config. A `data` folder will be created inside this `NETWORK_DIR` if not already there.
@@ -119,6 +157,11 @@ NETWORK_DIR=local-devnet ./spin-node.sh --node all --generateGenesis --metrics
    - If not provided, defaults to `latest` for zeam, ream, and lantern, and `dd67521` for qlean
    - The script will automatically pull the specified Docker images before running containers
    - Example: `--tag devnet0` or `--tag devnet1`
+11. `--config-file` specifies a custom configuration file to override default Docker images for specific clients.
+   - Path to a YAML file containing client image overrides (e.g., `user-config.yml` or `/path/to/my-config.yml`)
+   - Only clients specified in the config file are overridden; others use defaults from `client-cmds/default-client-config.yml`
+   - See [Using custom Docker images](#using-custom-docker-images) scenario for usage examples
+   - Example: `--config-file user-config.yml` or `--config-file /path/to/custom-config.yml`
 12. `--metrics` enables metrics collection on all nodes. When specified, each client will activate its metrics endpoint according to its implementation. Metrics ports are configured per node in `validator-config.yaml`.
 
 ### Clients supported
@@ -148,12 +191,19 @@ The quickstart uses separate directories for local and Ansible deployments:
 
 ```
 lean-quickstart/
-├── local-devnet/              # Local development
+├── client-cmds/                   # Client command scripts
+│   ├── default-client-config.yml  # Default Docker images for all clients
+│   ├── zeam-cmd.sh
+│   ├── ream-cmd.sh
+│   └── ...
+├── user-config.yml.example        # Example custom config (copy to user-config.yml)
+├── user-config.yml                # Your custom image overrides (gitignored)
+├── local-devnet/                  # Local development
 │   ├── genesis/
 │   │   └── validator-config.yaml  # Local IPs (127.0.0.1)
 │   └── data/                      # Node data directories
 │
-└── ansible-devnet/            # Ansible/remote deployment
+└── ansible-devnet/                # Ansible/remote deployment
     ├── genesis/
     │   └── validator-config.yaml  # Remote IPs (your server IPs)
     └── data/                      # Node data directories
diff --git a/client-cmds/default-client-config.yml b/client-cmds/default-client-config.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cc700c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client-cmds/default-client-config.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+# Default Client Configuration
+# This file contains the default Docker images for all supported clients
+# These defaults are used when no custom config file is specified via --config-file
+
+clients:
+  - name: zeam
+    image: blockblaz/zeam:latest
+
+  - name: ream
+    image: ghcr.io/reamlabs/ream:latest
+
+  - name: qlean
+    image: qdrvm/qlean-mini:latest
+
+  - name: lantern
+    image: piertwo/lantern:latest
+
+  - name: lighthouse
+    image: hopinheimer/lighthouse:latest
+
+  - name: grandine
+    image: sifrai/lean:latest
diff --git a/client-cmds/grandine-cmd.sh b/client-cmds/grandine-cmd.sh
index b8456a6..f07e6a8 100644
--- a/client-cmds/grandine-cmd.sh
+++ b/client-cmds/grandine-cmd.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
+# Docker image (set from default-client-config.yml or user config via --config-file)
+# grandineImage is exported by spin-node.sh before sourcing this file
+
 node_binary="$grandine_bin \
         --genesis $configDir/config.yaml \
         --validator-registry-path $configDir/validators.yaml \
@@ -10,7 +13,7 @@ node_binary="$grandine_bin \
         --address 0.0.0.0 \
         --hash-sig-key-dir $configDir/hash-sig-keys"
 
-node_docker="sifrai/lean:unstable \
+node_docker="$grandineImage \
         --genesis /config/config.yaml \
         --validator-registry-path /config/validators.yaml \
         --bootnodes /config/nodes.yaml \
diff --git a/client-cmds/lantern-cmd.sh b/client-cmds/lantern-cmd.sh
index 3075a95..cd3dcc3 100755
--- a/client-cmds/lantern-cmd.sh
+++ b/client-cmds/lantern-cmd.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
 #-----------------------lantern setup----------------------
-LANTERN_IMAGE="piertwo/lantern:v0.0.1"
+# Docker image (set from default-client-config.yml or user config via --config-file)
+# lanternImage is exported by spin-node.sh before sourcing this file
 
 devnet_flag=""
 if [ -n "$devnet" ]; then
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ node_binary="$scriptDir/lantern/build/lantern_cli \
         --log-level debug \
         --hash-sig-key-dir $configDir/hash-sig-keys"
 
-node_docker="$LANTERN_IMAGE --data-dir /data \
+node_docker="$lanternImage --data-dir /data \
         --genesis-config /config/config.yaml \
         --validator-registry-path /config/validators.yaml \
         --genesis-state /config/genesis.ssz \
diff --git a/client-cmds/lighthouse-cmd.sh b/client-cmds/lighthouse-cmd.sh
index 1e129c2..51938c6 100644
--- a/client-cmds/lighthouse-cmd.sh
+++ b/client-cmds/lighthouse-cmd.sh
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 # Metrics enabled by default
 metrics_flag="--metrics"
 
+# Docker image (set from default-client-config.yml or user config via --config-file)
+# lighthouseImage is exported by spin-node.sh before sourcing this file
+
 node_binary="$lighthouse_bin lean_node \
       --datadir \"$dataDir/$item\" \
       --config \"$configDir/config.yaml\" \
@@ -16,7 +19,7 @@ node_binary="$lighthouse_bin lean_node \
       --metrics-address 0.0.0.0 \
       --metrics-port $metricsPort"
 
-node_docker="hopinheimer/lighthouse:latest lighthouse lean_node \
+node_docker="$lighthouseImage lighthouse lean_node \
       --datadir /data \
       --config /config/config.yaml \
       --validators /config/validator-config.yaml \
diff --git a/client-cmds/qlean-cmd.sh b/client-cmds/qlean-cmd.sh
index 178ca98..a90b775 100644
--- a/client-cmds/qlean-cmd.sh
+++ b/client-cmds/qlean-cmd.sh
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 #-----------------------qlean setup----------------------
 # expects "qlean" submodule or symlink inside "lean-quickstart" root directory
 # https://github.com/qdrvm/qlean-mini
+
+# Docker image (set from default-client-config.yml or user config via --config-file)
+# qleanImage is exported by spin-node.sh before sourcing this file
+
 node_binary="$scriptDir/qlean/build/src/executable/qlean \
       --modules-dir $scriptDir/qlean/build/src/modules \
       --genesis $configDir/config.yaml \
@@ -16,8 +20,8 @@ node_binary="$scriptDir/qlean/build/src/executable/qlean \
       --listen-addr /ip4/0.0.0.0/udp/$quicPort/quic-v1 \
       --prometheus-port $metricsPort \
       -ldebug"
-      
-node_docker="qdrvm/qlean-mini:3a96a1f \
+
+node_docker="$qleanImage \
       --genesis /config/config.yaml \
       --validator-registry-path /config/validators.yaml \
       --validator-keys-manifest /config/hash-sig-keys/validator-keys-manifest.yaml \
diff --git a/client-cmds/ream-cmd.sh b/client-cmds/ream-cmd.sh
index 0c5105d..ad30479 100755
--- a/client-cmds/ream-cmd.sh
+++ b/client-cmds/ream-cmd.sh
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
 # Metrics enabled by default
 metrics_flag="--metrics"
 
+# Docker image (set from default-client-config.yml or user config via --config-file)
+# reamImage is exported by spin-node.sh before sourcing this file
+
 # modify the path to the ream binary as per your system
 node_binary="$scriptDir/../ream/target/release/ream --data-dir $dataDir/$item \
         lean_node \
@@ -17,7 +20,7 @@ node_binary="$scriptDir/../ream/target/release/ream --data-dir $dataDir/$item \
         --metrics-port $metricsPort \
         --http-address 0.0.0.0"
 
-node_docker="ghcr.io/reamlabs/ream:latest --data-dir /data \
+node_docker="$reamImage --data-dir /data \
         lean_node \
         --network /config/config.yaml \
         --validator-registry-path /config/validators.yaml \
diff --git a/client-cmds/zeam-cmd.sh b/client-cmds/zeam-cmd.sh
index 1485465..23c2085 100644
--- a/client-cmds/zeam-cmd.sh
+++ b/client-cmds/zeam-cmd.sh
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@
 # Metrics enabled by default
 metrics_flag="--metrics_enable"
 
+# Docker image (set from default-client-config.yml or user config via --config-file)
+# zeamImage is exported by spin-node.sh before sourcing this file
+
 node_binary="$scriptDir/../zig-out/bin/zeam node \
       --custom_genesis $configDir \
       --validator_config $validatorConfig \
@@ -14,7 +17,7 @@ node_binary="$scriptDir/../zig-out/bin/zeam node \
       $metrics_flag \
       --metrics_port $metricsPort"
 
-node_docker="--security-opt seccomp=unconfined blockblaz/zeam:devnet1 node \
+node_docker="--security-opt seccomp=unconfined $zeamImage node \
       --custom_genesis /config \
       --validator_config $validatorConfig \
       --data-dir /data \
diff --git a/load-client-config.sh b/load-client-config.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3d014aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/load-client-config.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Load client configuration from default and optional user config files
+
+# Arrays to store client names and images (bash 3.2 compatible)
+CLIENT_NAMES=()
+CLIENT_IMAGES_LIST=()
+KNOWN_CLIENTS=("zeam" "ream" "qlean" "lantern" "lighthouse" "grandine")
+
+# Function to load default config
+load_default_config() {
+    local default_config="$scriptDir/client-cmds/default-client-config.yml"
+
+    if [ ! -f "$default_config" ]; then
+        echo "⚠️  Warning: Default config not found at $default_config"
+        return 1
+    fi
+
+    # Load default images using yq
+    while IFS= read -r line; do
+        local client_name=$(echo "$line" | awk '{print $1}')
+        local client_image=$(echo "$line" | awk '{print $2}')
+        CLIENT_NAMES+=("$client_name")
+        CLIENT_IMAGES_LIST+=("$client_image")
+    done < <(yq eval '.clients[] | .name + " " + .image' "$default_config")
+
+    echo "✓ Loaded default client images from $default_config"
+}
+
+# Function to find index of client name
+find_client_index() {
+    local search_name="$1"
+    local i=0
+    for name in "${CLIENT_NAMES[@]}"; do
+        if [ "$name" == "$search_name" ]; then
+            echo "$i"
+            return 0
+        fi
+        ((i++))
+    done
+    echo "-1"
+}
+
+# Function to load user config and override defaults
+load_user_config() {
+    local user_config="$1"
+
+    if [ -z "$user_config" ]; then
+        return 0
+    fi
+
+    if [ ! -f "$user_config" ]; then
+        echo "⚠️  Warning: User config file not found at $user_config - using defaults"
+        return 1
+    fi
+
+    echo "Loading user config from $user_config..."
+
+    # Load user-specified images
+    local override_count=0
+    while IFS= read -r line; do
+        local client_name=$(echo "$line" | awk '{print $1}')
+        local client_image=$(echo "$line" | awk '{print $2}')
+
+        # Validate client name
+        local valid_client=false
+        for known in "${KNOWN_CLIENTS[@]}"; do
+            if [ "$client_name" == "$known" ]; then
+                valid_client=true
+                break
+            fi
+        done
+
+        if [ "$valid_client" == "false" ]; then
+            echo "⚠️  Warning: Unknown client '$client_name' in config - skipping"
+            continue
+        fi
+
+        # Validate image format (basic check)
+        if [[ ! "$client_image" =~ ^[a-zA-Z0-9._/-]+:[a-zA-Z0-9._-]+$ ]]; then
+            echo "⚠️  Warning: Invalid image format '$client_image' for client '$client_name' - using default"
+            continue
+        fi
+
+        # Find and update the client image
+        local idx=$(find_client_index "$client_name")
+        if [ "$idx" != "-1" ]; then
+            CLIENT_IMAGES_LIST[$idx]="$client_image"
+            echo "  ✓ Override $client_name: $client_image"
+            ((override_count++))
+        fi
+    done < <(yq eval '.clients[] | .name + " " + .image' "$user_config" 2>/dev/null)
+
+    if [ $override_count -eq 0 ]; then
+        echo "⚠️  No valid overrides found in user config"
+    else
+        echo "✓ Applied $override_count custom image(s) from user config"
+    fi
+}
+
+# Function to get image for a specific client
+get_client_image() {
+    local client_name="$1"
+    local idx=$(find_client_index "$client_name")
+    if [ "$idx" != "-1" ]; then
+        echo "${CLIENT_IMAGES_LIST[$idx]}"
+    fi
+}
+
+# Function to display loaded configuration
+display_client_config() {
+    echo ""
+    echo "=================================================="
+    echo "Client Configuration:"
+    echo "=================================================="
+    printf "%-12s | %s\n" "Client" "Docker Image"
+    echo "--------------------------------------------------"
+    local i=0
+    for client in "${CLIENT_NAMES[@]}"; do
+        if [ -n "${CLIENT_IMAGES_LIST[$i]}" ]; then
+            printf "%-12s | %s\n" "$client" "${CLIENT_IMAGES_LIST[$i]}"
+        fi
+        ((i++))
+    done
+    echo "=================================================="
+    echo ""
+}
+
+# Load default configuration
+load_default_config
+
+# Load user configuration if provided
+if [ -n "$configFile" ]; then
+    load_user_config "$configFile"
+fi
diff --git a/parse-env.sh b/parse-env.sh
index 91b2a6a..da57287 100755
--- a/parse-env.sh
+++ b/parse-env.sh
@@ -76,6 +76,11 @@ while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
       shift # past argument
       shift # past value
       ;;
+    --config-file)
+      configFile="$2"
+      shift # past argument
+      shift # past value
+      ;;
     --stop)
       stopNodes=true
       shift
@@ -109,4 +114,5 @@ echo "generateGenesis = $generateGenesis"
 echo "cleanData = $cleanData"
 echo "popupTerminal = $popupTerminal"
 echo "dockerTag = ${dockerTag:-latest}"
+echo "configFile = ${configFile:-none}"
 echo "enableMetrics = $enableMetrics"
diff --git a/spin-node.sh b/spin-node.sh
index 09eae2d..8af9957 100755
--- a/spin-node.sh
+++ b/spin-node.sh
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ fi
 # 0. parse env and args
 source "$(dirname $0)/parse-env.sh"
 
+# Load client configuration (default + user config if provided)
+source "$(dirname $0)/load-client-config.sh"
+
 # Check if yq is installed (needed for deployment mode detection)
 if ! command -v yq &> /dev/null; then
     echo "Error: yq is required but not installed. Please install yq first."
@@ -229,6 +232,9 @@ elif [[ "$OSTYPE" == "linux"* ]]; then
   done
 fi
 spinned_pids=()
+declare -A node_images
+declare -A node_modes
+
 for item in "${spin_nodes[@]}"; do
   echo -e "\n\nspining $item: client=$client (mode=$node_setup)"
   printf '%*s' $(tput cols) | tr ' ' '-'
@@ -248,11 +254,45 @@ for item in "${spin_nodes[@]}"; do
   IFS='_' read -r -a elements <<< "$item"
   client="${elements[0]}"
 
+  # Get docker image from config (always set - from default-client-config.yml or user override)
+  client_image=$(get_client_image "$client")
+
+  # Export the image variable for this client (will be used by client-cmd.sh)
+  case "$client" in
+    zeam)
+      export zeamImage="$client_image"
+      ;;
+    ream)
+      export reamImage="$client_image"
+      ;;
+    qlean)
+      export qleanImage="$client_image"
+      ;;
+    lantern)
+      export lanternImage="$client_image"
+      ;;
+    lighthouse)
+      export lighthouseImage="$client_image"
+      ;;
+    grandine)
+      export grandineImage="$client_image"
+      ;;
+  esac
+  echo "  ✓ Using image for $client: $client_image"
+
   # get client specific cmd and its mode (docker, binary)
   sourceCmd="source client-cmds/$client-cmd.sh"
   echo "$sourceCmd"
   eval $sourceCmd
 
+  # Store the final image for display
+  if [ "$node_setup" == "docker" ]; then
+    node_images["$item"]=$(echo "$node_docker" | grep -oE '[^ ]+:[^ ]+' | head -1)
+  fi
+
+  # Store node mode
+  node_modes["$item"]="$node_setup"
+
   # spin nodes
   if [ "$node_setup" == "binary" ]
   then
@@ -292,6 +332,25 @@ done;
 container_names="${spin_nodes[*]}"
 process_ids="${spinned_pids[*]}"
 
+# Display summary table
+echo ""
+echo "=================================================="
+echo "Deployed Nodes Summary:"
+echo "=================================================="
+printf "%-15s | %-10s | %s\n" "Node" "Mode" "Docker Image"
+echo "--------------------------------------------------"
+for node in "${spin_nodes[@]}"; do
+  mode="${node_modes[$node]}"
+  if [ "$mode" == "docker" ]; then
+    image="${node_images[$node]}"
+    printf "%-15s | %-10s | %s\n" "$node" "$mode" "$image"
+  else
+    printf "%-15s | %-10s | %s\n" "$node" "$mode" "N/A (binary mode)"
+  fi
+done
+echo "=================================================="
+echo ""
+
 cleanup() {
   echo -e "\n\ncleaning up"
   printf '%*s' $(tput cols) | tr ' ' '-'
diff --git a/user-config.yml.example b/user-config.yml.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..15c0611
--- /dev/null
+++ b/user-config.yml.example
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+# User Client Configuration Example
+# Copy this file to user-config.yml and customize your client images
+# Usage: ./spin-node.sh --config-file user-config.yml --node all
+#
+# Only specify clients you want to override - others will use defaults
+# from client-cmds/default-client-config.yml
+
+clients:
+  - name: zeam
+    image: blockblaz/zeam:custom-tag
+
+  - name: ream
+    image: ghcr.io/reamlabs/ream:my-branch
+
+  # Add more clients as needed:
+  # - name: qlean
+  #   image: qdrvm/qlean-mini:custom-tag
+  #
+  # - name: lantern
+  #   image: piertwo/lantern:custom-tag
+  #
+  # - name: lighthouse
+  #   image: hopinheimer/lighthouse:custom-tag
+  #
+  # - name: grandine
+  #   image: sifrai/lean:custom-tag