Depends on the size, but with my boas, I just reach in showing them the palm of my open hand, bringing it over their head and just pick them up. It is always easier to deal with snakes in containers/cages that open from above rather than those that open from the front, in my opinion.
Why I generally don't keep pythons is because they are less predictable, a little bit more willful and moody. Their moods can fluctuate more within individuals, as does the temperaments among individuals vary. Maybe, I'm just not good at reading them.
Avoid direct eye contact if possible. Eye contact intimidates snakes and gets them defensive. That's one good reason for the palm of the hand. It blocks the eye to eye contact. Most snakes are also less likely to strike out and bite at large surfaces they can't get a purchase on.
In the same vein of avoiding eye contact, you can throw a towel, snake bag, newspaper, or anything large enough to cover the snake to pick it up and get it out of it's cage. After all, getting it out, the initial contact is usually the most problematic. Once out, the snake can be manipulated in such a manner as to remove the cover.
Like I said, just go for it. If you are fiddling around in the cage prior to attempting to remove the snake, chances are good you will have aroused a negative response in the snake.
Look the other way and take your medicine, just like at the Dr's office when you were a kid getting a shot. Where's your commitment? Show us your stuff. You must be decisive, without being violent.
I could never understand how parrot people could stand to have those birds bite the Hell out of them, but they do. I'd much rather take the snake bite any day.
jsc

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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

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