I just use a Canon Power shot camera and a cheap table top tripod, thats all. I never reallly got to know my camera and the available setting options til recently. Take the photo using your self timer so you dont move the camera while pushing the button. I just took a day to play with the settings and tracked what was set at what and what photo I took til I got the one i liked, been using that ever since.
Laid it on a sheet of copy paper in front of the doorwall. Held another on a 45' angle between the window and the pen to cut down on shadows. Set ISO to 100, exposure to 1+1/3, daylight setting,evaluative,superfine, 2592x1944 pixel settings.
I still have to do some photo shop adjustments for size reduction and minor lighting changes, but it should come out close to this.
Hope this helps.