locked iphone

In particular since you want photos that were on the phone you cannot follow other commonly recommended steps which are easier but will result in a wiped device. Read the next article:

How to request access to a deceased family member's Apple accounts - https://support.apple.com/HT208510

If the iPhone is already on the Activation Lock screen, requesting an Apple ID and password, then the data is already gone. As the activation lock screen will only appear after the device has been erased / restored without removing it from the Apple ID.

If its just requesting the screen unlock passcode, then activation lock is not yet active.

Apple may be able to help get into it at that point and retrieve the data and photos as explained in the link provided by Limnos.

If malyn145 is fortunate the photos may be in iCloud for the user's account and getting access to that may be helpful even if the photos are no longer on the phone.

This is true and a good avenue to pursue in case the iPad cannot be successfully unlocked.