How much are you willing to pay to get these photos back? I’m sure a data recovery specialist will manage it. You’ve got to stop using the phone so the data isn’t overwritten. I’ve used a company called CBL Data Recovery[/url] a couple of times (I’ve no connection to them) for work. They will check the drive/device, tell you what they can recover and give you a quote. You then decide if you want them to go ahead. If you decide not to go ahead there is no fee.
As others have said, you need to start backing up your data. If you don’t have your photos on at least 2 separate drives in 2 separate physical locations then you’re risking loosing them. Most data can be recreated but photos generally can’t. What if your wife had lost her phone or had it stolen?
Good luck.