i have photos on my retired iphone 4s and dont remember passcode help

Since the passcode is forgotten, your iPhone will be erased and have to be restored from its backup.

If you forgot the passcode on your iPhone, or your iPhone is disabled - Apple Support

Log into iCloud and see if they are there.

The above response applies.

The photos are not retrievable without the passcode. Without the passcode, they must come from your backup. No backup = no photos.

... and, by the way, keeping everyone in the world (who does not know your passcode) from accessing whatever may be on that iPhone, no matter how private.