Film production in Atlanta
Between June and December, usable daylight in Atlanta moves by 4h 28min — from 14h 23min down to 9h 55min. An exterior day in December is a different day from one in June. This page carries sunrise, sunset and golden-hour times for all twelve months, the climate profile.
Light and shooting hours
On 15 June, the sun in Atlanta rises at 06:27 and sets at 20:50; the evening golden hour starts at 20:14 and runs for 37 minutes. By December that shifts to 07:36–17:31, with a 38-minute golden-hour window from 16:53.
For scheduling, that means the window for the one shot that lives on light runs between 33 and 38 minutes across the year. Put it last in the day and the first overrun takes it.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Golden hour (evening, from) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:43 | 17:52 | 10h 09min | 17:15 |
| February | 07:23 | 18:22 | 10h 59min | 17:48 |
| March | 07:49 | 19:46 | 11h 57min | 19:13 |
| April | 07:08 | 20:09 | 13h 01min | 19:35 |
| May | 06:38 | 20:32 | 13h 54min | 19:57 |
| June | 06:27 | 20:50 | 14h 23min | 20:14 |
| July | 06:39 | 20:50 | 14h 11min | 20:14 |
| August | 07:00 | 20:26 | 13h 25min | 19:52 |
| September | 07:22 | 19:46 | 12h 24min | 19:13 |
| October | 07:43 | 19:05 | 11h 22min | 18:31 |
| November | 07:10 | 17:36 | 10h 25min | 17:00 |
| December | 07:36 | 17:31 | 9h 55min | 16:53 |
Blue hour and shooting windows
Blue hour in Atlanta starts at 21:08 in June and ends at 21:19 — a window of 11 minutes. In December it is 11 minutes from 17:48. If you need a city view with lit windows, that window is all you get.
Sunset moves fastest around the equinoxes: between March (19:46) and September (19:46) there are 0 minutes of difference. A schedule running over several weeks cannot work from one fixed "sunset" time.
Weather and washout risk
Atlanta averages 18 rain days in July and 8 in October. A three-day exterior shoot in July statistically loses 1.8 days — not a forecast, but the basis for deciding whether a cover set belongs in the budget.
| Month | Mean temperature | Rain days | Sunshine hours/day |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6.3 °C | 11 | 6.7 |
| February | 9.3 °C | 13 | 6.6 |
| March | 12.6 °C | 12 | 8.1 |
| April | 16.1 °C | 10 | 10.1 |
| May | 20.9 °C | 12 | 10.8 |
| June | 24.5 °C | 15 | 11.3 |
| July | 26.0 °C | 18 | 11.2 |
| August | 25.4 °C | 17 | 10.8 |
| September | 23.1 °C | 10 | 9.9 |
| October | 17.7 °C | 8 | 8.8 |
| November | 11.9 °C | 8 | 7.5 |
| December | 8.7 °C | 11 | 5.9 |
Filming permits
The responsible body is das Office of Film, Television & Entertainment der Stadt Atlanta; für Drehs außerhalb der Stadtgrenzen sind die jeweiligen Counties zuständig. Provided without warranty. Permit and incentive conditions change; the responsible authority is always the binding source.
As of: 2026-08 · Source: atlantaga.gov
Incentives and rebates
Georgia gewährt eine übertragbare Steuergutschrift ohne Jahresdeckel; Zertifizierung über das Georgia Department of Economic Development. Provided without warranty. Permit and incentive conditions change; the responsible authority is always the binding source.
As of: 2026-08 · Source: georgia.org
Planning a shoot here
A schedule that ignores these numbers looks fine on paper and falls over on the day. TillyGen folds sun position, travel and crew availability straight into the schedule — if the exterior no longer fits before sunset in December, the plan says so, not the wrap report.
Frequently asked
When is golden hour in Atlanta?
In June it starts at 20:14 and lasts 37 minutes; in December it starts at 16:53 and lasts 38 minutes. The table above lists all twelve months.
How much daylight does a shoot day in Atlanta get?
Between 9h 55min in December and 14h 23min in June. The 4h 28min difference is worth four to eight setups depending on your pace.
Which month is best for exteriors in Atlanta?
Combining daylight and rain days, April comes out ahead: plenty of usable light with comparatively few rain days. June has the longest days but not necessarily the steadiest weather.