I know BPs are supposed to have a pretty good sense of smell, and will eventually come to recognize their handlers, but does anyone have snakes that are shy only around strangers?

Shenanigans is a total kitten when it comes to me handling him; if I pick him up out of his cage he might as well be a limp noodle for all he reacts. Usually he doesn't even bother coiling his tail around my arm, and I have to keep a close eye on him if he's crawling around or sitting on my shoulder (or my head) as he would slither merrily off into oblivion if I weren't there to catch him!

However, if I bring him out around friends, even if I don't let them hold him he immediately gets defensive around them, and pulls his head back. On the odd occasion that I let people familiar with snakes hold him, including a friend who used to have several pythons and boas, he balls up into a tight little coil and refuses to come out. It's not until I pick him up again and go to put him back in his cage that he relaxes.

It doesn't seem to be the environment, I have him around my neck wandering around the house or doing things and he's fine, just not with other people. Anyone else have snakes that react similarly? I'm new to BPs so maybe this is totally normal, I'm just surprised that they would be that good and particular about identifying people.