A system determines a plurality of frames. The plurality of frames is a subset of a set of frames comprising at least a portion of a video clip. The frames are candidates to represent the set of frames. The system calculates a motion vector for each of the frames within the plurality of frames. The motion vector indicates an amount of motion in each of the frames with respect to at least one other frame from the plurality of frames. The system assesses a strength value for each of the frames. The strength value indicates an assessment of pictorial quality of each of the frames. The system selects a representative frame from the plurality of frames based on the motion vector and strength value. The representative frame indicates a most favorable representation of the plurality of frames.