Yeah I can't say that I am a big fan of snakes... I've had to hold a couple of BOA's before and It really was nerve racking. I've been out and photographed some garden snakes in the past and it made me nervous as well.
Is this you holding the snake or someone else?
I'm holding the camera. I have held hundreds of wild snakes. No big deal if you know what you are doing. This guy's snake was a pet, so even more docile.