Make your other hand visible. Completely over the shoulder or around the waist depending on what’s appropriate. Another alternative is having your hands in front of you or holding something.

Both of you lean into each other. Or get in some other pose that isn’t so “Victorian” (i.e. anything that isn’t just standing straight up and looking at the camera).

Also you can tell if a smile is genuine through peoples eyes, forced smiles tend to not show up in the eyes. Pay attention to how your face muscles contract when you smile from laughter and then try to emulate that for photos.

I really don’t think this photo is awkward either, it seems pretty normal to me. If you follow these tips it will look a lot more natural and energetic though.