Check the device’s Recently Deleted/Trash folder
Restore from the cloud backup (Google Photos, iCloud Photos, OneDrive, etc.)
Restore from a device backup (iTunes/Finder, Android backup tools)
If on Android, check Google Photos “Trash” and any manufacturer gallery “Trash”
If on iPhone, check iCloud Photos “Recently Deleted” and the Photos app “Recently Deleted”
Stop using the device immediately to reduce overwriting
If photos were on an SD card, remove the card and avoid further writes
Use reputable photo recovery software on a computer (choose one that supports your device/storage type)
Scan the internal storage/SD card with recovery tools and select recoverable images
Save recovered files to a different drive (not the same storage you’re recovering from)
For WhatsApp/Telegram/other apps, check in-app media folders and their backups
Check email attachments and cloud sync folders for copies of the images
If photos were shared, re-download from the messaging app/gallery where available
Contact the service provider or a professional data recovery service if the data is critical