How NASA did it was with a module attached the the lander, called the MESA. It contained a TV camera. Armstrong pulled a D-ring, the MESA swung out, and he positioned it for proper pickup. Here's the link to the full transcript:
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/a11.step.html and the relevant portion produced below:
109:20:56 Aldrin: Okay. Everything's nice and straight in here.
109:20:58 Armstrong: Okay. Can you pull the door open a little more?
109:21:00 Aldrin: All right.
109:21:03 Armstrong: Okay. (Pause)
109:21:07 Aldrin: Did you get the MESA out?
109:21:09 Armstrong: I'm going to pull it now. (Pause)
[Neil is pulling the D-ring which releases the MESA, attached to the side of the LM under Buzz's station, and lets it swing down into an accessible position. Once down on the surface, he can adjust the MESA height if necessary. Training photo S69-31080 (scan by Paolo Dangelo) shows Neil working at the MESA. A drawing of the MESA shows the location of the TV camera which will show Neil's climb down the ladder.]
109:21:18 Armstrong: Houston, the MESA came down all right.
109:21:22 McCandless: This is Houston. Roger. We copy. Standing by for your TV.
109:21:39 Armstrong: Houston, this is Neil. Radio check.
109:21:42 McCandless: Neil, this is Houston. Loud and clear. Break. Break. Buzz, this is Houston. Radio check, and verify TV circuit breaker in.
109:21:54 Aldrin: Roger, TV circuit breaker's in. And read you loud and clear.
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PS: Thanks for the update, DU! It made my day.