How to tame a Snake: the basics

1) Good husbandry practices create a safe and secure home. This is essential, a snake that is insecure in its home is even more insecure when being handled.

2) Feed 'em. I had a female ball python take a swing at my face the millisecond I had her cage open. She was literally coming out towards me, and was half out of her cage by the time I got the hook under her.. It was feeding day, and very much unusual behavior for a ball python, brought on by hunger and the smell of thawed rodents.

3) Get them 'used' to handling. I define a 'good' interaction with a snake as one where the snake doesn't strike. You'll get to know your snake's breaking point, try not to go past it. The best ways to interact with a snappy snake are changing substrate and filling water dishes. You can try to advance to handling via a hook only, and keeping your body well away from them so they don't perceive you as an immediate threat. I then progress to tailing and using the hook, and eventually a technique I call "being the tree". Be still, let them crawl on you. Over time, if you shoot for a few 'good' interactions every week, your snake should become conditioned to interaction and not feel as threatened.

Eventually most snakes calm down with nothing more than time.